City Council on Jan. 28 approved a $134,902 contract with Portsmouth-based Tri-Master Inc. to replace or retrofit all existing signal heads, pedestrian signal heads, school flasher signs and railroad flasher signals with LED lenses, which are brighter and use less power than traditional lights.

To increase traffic safety, a battery backup system will be installed at the intersections of Mason-Montgomery and Tylersville roads, Tylersville and Reading roads, Kings Mills Road and state Route 741, Mason-Montgomery Road and Main Street and Reading Road and state Route 741.

The intersections were chosen with the help of the Mason Police Department because they are difficult and dangerous for officers to flag traffic when power failures occur, according to Service Director Richard Fair.

Units come with a five-year warranty, and the city added a provision to the contract to replace any outages for the first two years at no cost.

The city will receive financial assistance for the project through federal safety funds administered by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; the grant will reimburse Mason for 80 percent of eligible construction costs.

Construction is expected to begin in March, Fair said.