Electronic road signs are dark near Effingham due to budget

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (AP) - Electronic message boards used to communicate with drivers in the Effingham area will remain dark because of Illinois' budget stalemate.

The Effingham Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/2gZayjQ ) the Illinois Department of Transportation installed message boards in the area in November 2015.

The signs were supposed to be in use along Interstate 70 and other roadways by spring 2016. But the project stalled, partly because a contractor who was doing wiring and other work wasn't paid.

City officials were eager to have the signs working in time for winter traffic problems. The boards can alert drivers of accidents or travel times and broadcast Amber Alerts and other messages.

The technology also includes cameras along the roadway to help emergency crews see traffic flows and respond to emergencies more quickly.