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This week's question is about the timing of signals for east/west traffic on Grant Road.

Reader Scott Baker said he notices the traffic-signal wait for north- or southbound traffic as it crosses Grant Road is longer than at other east-west roadways. It seems the signals give a higher priority, which translates to more green-light time, to Grant Road traffic than to traffic on north/south streets such as Swan, Alvernon and Campbell, he said.

"I was wondering if there is an intentional greater bias for Grant Road than for Speedway, Broadway or Prince Road," he said.

"Maybe the lights are set differently for Grant?" he suggests.

Scott, you hit this one on the head.

The signals are set differently on Grant than they are on Speedway or Broadway, said Michael Graham, spokesman for the Tucson Department of Transportation.

"Grant receives additional green time on its east/west travel because for the most part, it is two lanes (in each direction) until you get to Swan," Graham said.

During peak travel times, more people are commuting west in the morning and east at night than north or south, he said.

For this reason, the lights are set to accommodate the east- and westbound traffic during rush hours, he said.

But the roadway's width and lane count factor in as well.

Speedway and Broadway are three lanes in each direction through most of Midtown, so more cars can get through the intersection at a time. But for the same number of cars to go through the intersection on Grant Road, which only has two lanes through most of Midtown, the lights have to be longer.

That means a longer wait for those who travel north and south, crossing Grant Road.

The Regional Transportation Plan, approved by voters in 2004, includes a project to widen Grant Road to three lanes in each direction from North Oracle Road to North Swan Road.

Once those extra lanes are added, the signals can be shifted to allow more green time for north- and southbound traffic crossing Grant Road, Graham said.

Question: "I bought a home near Twin Peaks Road in Marana in 1998. I was given a disclosure statement saying that the Twin Peaks/Linda Vista interchange on Interstate 10 would be completed in 5 years. It is now 10 years, and I still see no action. Can you update me on this project?" wrote Fred Yeck.

Answer: The Twin Peaks/Linda Vista interchange is planned to be built between Cortaro and Tangerine roads, said Linda Ritter, Arizona Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

The department plans to solicit bids this year and expects construction will start late this year or in early 2009, she said.

The construction is scheduled to last about two years, she said.