SHERMAN, TX -- Keeping the roads safe is one of the top priorities for Sherman officials as the city continues to grow. The council approved a plan to improve a busy and dangerous intersection that they say will only get busier in the coming months.

At Monday night's meeting council members gave a green light to new traffic lights near the west entrance of the Walmart in Sherman and also gave the go-ahead for the construction of a new road. Community members we talk to say they are thrilled about the changes and hope they will make a dangerous area a little bit safer.

Judith Smith says she has lived in the area for 16 years. She says the traffic around the intersection of Travis St. and Highway 82 frontage road makes shopping not only difficult, but downright dangerous.

"The traffic itself just trying to get in and get out it's just a problem," Smith said.

Sherman Mayor Bill Magers says that will all change soon thanks to a new project now underway that will help keep up with all the traffic.

"When that intersection was designed Walmart and that Town Center wasn't there, and as that grew you have what they call stacking," Mayor Magers said.

Mayor Magers says the City, Tx-DOT and the Metropolitan Planning Organization will work together to build a new street from Canyon Grove Rd. south to the 82 westbound frontage road.

"It'll help traffic flow going south you'll be diverted so instead of coming to Travis and then going south or north you'll make that decision several hundred feet in advance of the street so it will relieve traffic congestion at Travis and Highway 82," Mayor Magers said.

But that is not the only improvement. New traffic signals will be installed at each intersection of the Travis St./131 overpass.

"Coming off of both of access roads on each side of that overpass that's a real challenge it can be dangerous," Dan Keene, Director of Public Works, said.

The project will cost around $200,000 dollars and Sherman officials say the City will pick up about 20 percent of the tab. Mayor Magers says this project has been a long time in the making and they are excited to see the work get started at the end of the month.

"It's not going to be 100 percent fixed, but you know with limited funds you do the best you can but it's going to be a great improvement for that intersection. It's going to get us down the road," Mayor Magers said.

"I really think that any type of new traffic signals roads or anything in this area would be a big benefit for everyone," Smith said.

Sherman City Leaders say the project is expected to start at the end of this month, just in time to accommodate even more traffic from a planned apartment complex at the intersection.