Work to install traffic signals at three of The Highlands' busiest intersections is being bid out by the Ohio County Development Authority.

Randy Wharton, Ohio County Development Authority member and Ohio County commissioner, said Wednesday the signals are needed to make the intersections safer for motorists using them.

A signal already exists at the Bob Evans/Cabela's intersection.

The first intersection to receive a signal is at the entrance of the shopping development, located just off Interstate 70 near Dallas Pike.

The design will be covered by the state and the cost by the county.

The area includes roads intersecting Cabela Drive that lead to Applebee's and Quiznos.

It is difficult at times for motorists to cross a total of five lanes to reach either the Quiznos building or Applebee's area. County officials have noted the intersection has been the site of auto accidents in the past.

In 2007, the OCDA asked state Division of Highways officials to consider installing a signal there.

However, county officials were told the state's traffic study showed having a signal at that intersection could periodically back traffic up onto I-70, and that was why a signal could not be installed there.

But state officials apparently changed their minds after talking with Sheetz gas station officials, said county Administrator Greg Stewart during a recent OCDA meeting, as the installation of a signal has now been given the OK.

''Sheetz helped bring about that with the additional traffic at the corner,'' Stewart said during the session.

Construction of the Sheetz gas station is under way. It's expected to open Aug. 20.

''We do have an agreement with the state. We do have $140,000 set aside for that project,'' Stewart added.

The second intersection where a signal is planned provides access to Target, J.C. Penney and Kohls stores.

The third will be located near the main Power Center and Town Center entrances. The second and third intersections will be designed by HDR Engineering and paid for by the OCDA.

''We get a lot traffic coming in and out of that Target intersection. ... We're working with the state. They're going to allow us to bid all three projects,'' Stewart said.

''That's going to be good news for the Christmas season, especially for the holiday shopping so we don't have some of those close calls that we had this season,'' Stewart added of the planned signals.

Though the state owns the beginning portion of the main street into the development where the first new signal will be located, the OCDA must pay for its installation, in addition to the second and third signals.

"It was a good deal for us. It gave us some control over it," Wharton said of the project.

He noted he did not know if the state or OCDA covered the design and installation cost of the existing signal near Bob Evans.