The state Department of Transportation has awarded Center Township $563,970 in grant money to replace the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 8 and Beech Road.

The funds come from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement Grant, which redistributes fines collected from red light cameras in Pennsylvania — the vast majority of which are located in Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

Township Supervisor Donald Pringle says that the grant allows them to replace the traffic signal at minimal cost to the township’s taxpayers. In addition, Center Township has applied for a separate grant — the Green Light Go grant — to finance a project at another intersection.

“These traffic lights are extremely expensive, and we’re blessed to secure this for the township,” Pringle said. “We’re going to continue helping the taxpayer in every aspect that we can for the safety of the community.”

According to Pringle, while the intersection of Route 8 and Beech Road is not particularly dangerous, the traffic signal is outdated and not up to modern standards.

“It’s antiquated, and you need to replace them every once in a while,” Pringle said.

The project is worthy of being funded, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, said in a news release.

“Ensuring the safety of our communities is a top priority, and this funding will help modernize traffic signals in Center Township, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall traffic flow,” Bernstine said. “This investment is a vital step toward improving the safety and mobility of our roadways, and I am proud to support this initiative.”

An Automated Red Light Enforcement Grant also funded a traffic signal replacement project at the intersection of Route 8 and Airport Road in Penn Township, to the tune of roughly $450,000. As of late February, the project is nearly complete.