This school zone sign on North Albany Road and the one in the other direction are to be replaced with flashing lights. (File photo dated Sept. 12, 2025)
Installing flashing speed limit signs in the school zone on North Albany Road apparently will cost the city less than officials had expected.
The city engineers’ estimate for the job was $70,000. But when four bids were opened on Tuesday, the lowest quoted price was considerably less.
The apparent low bidder was North Star Electrical Contractors, based in Sherwood, which offered to install the lights for $42,900.
The other bidders were Pacific Excavation of Eugene ($44,250), Aaken Corporation of Bend ($49,470), and Global Electric Inc. of North Plains ($65,250).
The prices were published on the city’s website after the bid opening on Tuesday afternoon. The site didn’t say when the contract would be awarded.
Whenever it is awarded, the contract calls for the installation to be completed within 30 days and, in any case, no later than April 3, 2026.
The Albany City Council directed that flashing lights be installed after hundreds of drivers last spring got speeding tickets in the school zone and at least some of them were misled by signs saying there was no school that day at either the middle or elementary school.
The new signs will say that the 20 mph school zone is in effect only when the lights are flashing. The rest of the time the speed limit is 40 mph.
On Queen Avenue at Elm Street, the only other Albany school zone with speed and red-light cameras, no flashing lights are needed because the base speed limit is 25 mph and the cameras are not set to enforce the school speed. (hh)
This is the kind of sign that will replace the existing signs on North Albany Road.
Why is it that we who obey the speed limit are forced to pay extra monies to erect signs to warn scofflaws to obey the OBVIOUS signs already in situ?
You realize the city has earned more than 70k in fine money right?
They should install the lights because if people are still getting tickets that means they’re not slowing down correct? So they’re installing the lights for SAFETY not to make money. This is what should have been done in the first place. It should be done at all the schools. And it sure doesn’t seem to be costing as much money as they thought unless the price of the light itself is $100,000
What makes you think that flashing lights are going to stop these folks?
Just curious is this something that should be funded out of or state taxes money and installed by an Oregon agency. Since this is a public road and school.So why is the City Council even involved in this matter ?If people cannot even follow simple road sign maybe they shouldn’t have a license!!.Are is this just another over reach of the city council to stick us with another bill to add to are already high water bill ?
How will those lights be controlled? Thanks for the article, Hasso
I’M SURE THE GAS TAX & THE FUTURE SCHOOL BOND WILL COVER THE COSTS….OH MY NO….
I don’t understand why the cameras are all concentrated on the North Albany Rd and NW Thornton Lake Rd.
There is a long stretch South that is still is a school zone. Albeit sitting way…I mean WAY back. Both schools are….
This is not about safety. It is a TRAP!
How is it a trap? Are you being forced to speed through a school zone? Is someone from the City sitting in your backseat holding a gun to your head? Or perhaps holding a gun to the head of loved one forcing you to speed so they can collect $200?
They really need to install flashing lights for the school zone at Fairmount School on Springhill! Its ridiculous there isnt one there already. It would really remind folks when they need to slow down, as so many just speed on through
Lisa , is that a school or a child care facility? Just curious as I do not see school buses dropping kids off or hardly seen any kids around the school my self as I drive by in the mornings and evenings. In the old day it used to be a grade school and part of the school system .