A traffic light might be on the way sooner than later on one of Hall County’s busiest roadways and at one of its largest subdivisions.

The Hall County Board of Commissioners talked Monday about a potential light on Spout Springs Road at Lake Sterling Boulevard, or the entrance to Sterling on the Lake in Flowery Branch.

Several details would need to be worked out, including a possible new traffic study and funding issues, before the project moves forward.

Spout Springs widening plans call for putting up a traffic light at Sterling as part of a realignment of Elizabeth Lane, but that project is likely still years away.

Right of way acquisition might not start for two to three years.

“We need to work with (Georgia Department of Transportation) officials and maybe our local (legislative) delegation to try to move that forward,” public works director Ken Rearden told commissioners.

In the meantime, the DOT could loan traffic equipment for the traffic light until a permanent light could be installed as part of the project, he said.

And Jackson Electric Membership Corp. could put up the poles, so costs could drop even further.

Commissioner Jeff Stowe asked about whether the DOT would approve the project based on new study results.

“It’s a county road, so we could put one there regardless,” Rearden said.

A study done in 2011 showed 711 cars per evening rush hour traveling south on Spout Springs at Sterling, with that number projected to increase to 2,000 by 2020.

“That (increase) was based on growth and … other things engineers do with their modeling efforts,” Rearden said.

The area has grown in general, but construction is continuing at Sterling, which eventually projects some 2,000 homes over 1,000 acres.

Commissioner Scott Gibbs asked whether the current traffic light at Elizabeth Lane helps with traffic flow through the area.

“It probably helps some, but what I hear from Flowery Branch is they have to bring traffic cops out there in the morning and afternoon to direct traffic in and out of the subdivision,” Rearden said.

If the project gets officials’ OK, it could take about four months to get the light in place, he said.