The Board of Supervisors has approved much needed improvements to what many consider one of Amador County’s most dangerous intersections. At the meeting Tuesday morning, Public Works Director Larry Petersen announced the approval of two federally funded grants that will go towards traffic safety improvements at the intersection of Ridge Road and New York Ranch Road. Specifically, the improvements consist of installing a new traffic signal, lengthening the existing merge lane and improving the “road profile” west of the intersection. The total combined amount of the two grants is 2,234,000 dollars. The grants were applied for under the 2007/2008 Highway Safety Improvements Program and the High Risk Rural Roads Program. The County is providing matching grants of 100,000 dollars. Since the grants cover a wide range of projects, the County’s local share is identified as 434,000 dollars. By combining these projects into a single effort, it is expected that cost savings will reduce the local share to 300,000, said Peterson. Resident and former supervisorial candidate David Pincus said he lived right near the intersection, or at “ground zero.” He said the improvements were “long overdue.” Members of the Ridge Road Coalition, who have been the most vocal opponents of the current blinking yield light, were not present at the meeting. The Supervisors unanimously welcomed the improvements, but were skeptical about there permanency. “There are people out there who think this is just another band aid. Will we ever be able to do an ultimate fix?” said Supervisor Louis Boitano. Although hesitant to say, Peterson predicted that the new intersection would last 20 years and accommodate for predicted traffic growth.