Drivers, shoppers and delivery trucks moving through Old Pasadena's busiest corridors are sharing the road with construction crews installing a new generation of traffic signals at up to 35 intersections, a $1.8 million contract the city says will cut delays and give fire trucks a faster path through red lights.

Contractor Elecnor Belco Electric began work Monday, June 29, along Colorado Boulevard, Orange Grove Boulevard, Green Street and Holly Street south of the I-210 Freeway, according to Colorado Boulevard News. The Intelligent Transportation System and Traffic Flow Improvements Project is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

What's getting replaced

Each intersection will receive new traffic signal controllers and cabinets, fiber-optic communication lines, dedicated short-range communications equipment and emergency vehicle preemption technology. The preemption system lets approaching fire trucks and ambulances trigger green lights, clearing traffic ahead of them.

Once connected, the fiber-optic network will allow the city's traffic management center to adjust signal timing in real time based on actual conditions rather than fixed schedules. The city's Department of Public Works said in its January 2026 agenda report that the upgrades will let Pasadena develop better signal coordination plans, reduce delays for all road users and actively manage travel speeds along the corridors.

Who's paying

The project is funded through the Measure R Mobility Improvement Grant, a Metro program that redirected roughly $708 million originally earmarked for the never-built SR-710 freeway extension to local road improvements across the San Gabriel Valley.

The Pasadena City Council authorized the contract Jan. 12. Elecnor Belco Electric's winning bid of $1,659,354 came in about 16 percent below the engineer's estimate of $1,970,000. With a 10 percent contingency and construction administration costs, the total fiscal impact is $1,991,224.

No General Fund dollars are involved.

Elecnor Belco Electric, based in Chino, has completed six signal-related projects for Pasadena totaling $4.5 million over the past five years, including a Lake Avenue pedestrian access project finished in 2024.

What drivers should expect

Construction is phased so that at least one travel lane stays open in each direction at all times, and access to businesses and properties along the corridors will be maintained throughout. No street geometry changes are planned; the project replaces signal equipment only and is exempt from state environmental review.

The original schedule called for an April start and September finish. The three-month delay has not been publicly explained.

City Engineer Brent Maue prepared the project report, which was submitted by Public Works Director Greg De Vinck and approved by City Manager Miguel Márquez. The December 2026 completion target is the next confirmed milestone.