It appears that residents who use the Normal Square intersection in Mahoning Township will be getting a Christmas present.

A long-overdue traffic light is finally being installed and according to the project foreman, it should be operational by Christmas.The intersection connects Route 443 and Mill Road in Mahoning. It has been the scene of many very serious accidents, some which resulted in fatalities. The new traffic light actually should have been installed years ago.It's a proven fact that traffic has gotten heavier in the past several years on Route 443. The intersection with Mill Road is a busy one. Add to the equation that there is frequent poor visibility for Mill Road drivers entering Route 443 either because of guide rails blocking the vision or a powerful rising or setting sun creating an intolerable glare.The speed limit here is 55 mph, so there isn't much room for error by drivers.With the impending construction of a new Super Wal-mart about four miles from the intersection, common sense dictates that the traffic problem is going to only get worse.We're glad officials and political figures finally found the money to get the traffic light installed. The new lights are virtually guaranteed to reduce the number of accidents and potentially save lives.The project is long overdue.By Ron Gowerrgower@tnonline.com