Augusta police dispatchers are reporting traffic lights on outer Western Avenue have been restored and are in working order again.

The lights went on the fritz around 3 p.m. today.

No accidents were reported in the area while the lights were out of commission.

The rest of the commute home is reportedly free of accidents.

If I had a dollar everytime I saw someone go the wrong way down the new Senator Way to Western Avenue, I would be ordering the seafood marinara at the Liberal Cup every night.

The traffic pattern — which converted the old Storey Street, a two-way, into Senator Way, a two-lane one-way — was changed nearly a month ago, but many motorists still disregard the blatant "one-way" and "do not enter" signs posted at the entrance of the road, as well as the new striping, designating a one-way road.

There were no traffic problems on Western Avenue this morning despite the opening of Lowe's, the first store in the Augusta Crossing shopping center.

Harry Wilson, of Pittston, came to Lowe’s at 9:15 a.m. with an empty trailer behind his red pick-up truck. “I’m optimistic,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he wasn't fazed by the continuing construction. “It’s not that bad,” he said.

“It’s more a matter of looking out for additional workers,” Wilson’s wife, Carol, said.

While the area where Lowe’s is located has been landscaped and paved, folks wanting to check out the new home improvement store should be warned: they’ll be greeted by a lot of heavy construction and flaggers when they get to the top of Senator Way.

The eastern half of Senator Way, which is the former Storey Street, was paved earlier today, and will have flaggers directing traffic.

Remember, Senator Way is now a one-way street. Cars are still trying to go in both directions to get back onto Western Avenue. While there haven’t been any reported vehicle accidents, there have been some near misses. Heed the signs and drive safe.

Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts.

Today should prove to be an uneventful commute. There are no reported vehicle accidents in Augusta or the surrounding communities. Traffic light problems reported along Western Avenue, which could cause something of a headache, have also been rectified.

Tomorrow’s commute could be a different story, however. The area is expected to see some chance snow showers and cloudy skies. Also, the new Lowe’s Home Improvement in Augusta Crossing will be opening its doors, which may fuel traffic back-ups at various hours of the day.

Stay tuned...

The drama surrounding Western Avenue never ends.

Starting Friday at 9 a.m., eastbound drivers near the intersection of Western Avenue and Senator Way (the former Storey Street) will be restricted to one lane until further notice for the rest of the day.

The lane will closed so the contractor, Alvin J. Coleman & Son Inc., can commence paving work in the intersection.

Until then, streets in Augusta and the surrounding communities should be free and clear for a peaceful commute home from work or school.

Graveyard shifting it? Expect chance showers into the evening and patchy fog.

It’s a beautiful Monday afternoon, and the gorgeous weather will ensure an uneventful commute home to enjoy what’s left of this unseasonable warmth.

No major accidents were reported this afternoon by the Augusta Police Department or the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.

Still not used to the new Senator Way off Western Avenue? You’re not alone. Four city council candidates met with the Kennebec Journal’s editorial board this morning to discuss several stances they hold as far as the city is concerned — one of the principle issues being driver safety and trying to anticipate what traffic will be like once all stores in Augusta Crossing are open.

“(Augusta Crossing) looks better than I envisioned,” current councilor Stan Koski said with a chuckle. “But I have to wonder what will happen to Western Avenue with all this new traffic after the center opens up? Will it become far, far, worse? It honestly makes me shudder.”

Echoed council hopeful Cecil Munson, “People, in my opinion, are very concerned about Western Avenue. I don’t know what will happen with (traffic). I guess only time will tell.”