NORTH SMITHFIELD - The Department of Transportation is finalizing design plans for pedestrian-focused traffic signals at the intersection at North Main Street and Victory Highway, the site where a 13-year-old boy was struck and killed while riding his bicycle more than a year ago.

It is a project that town officials are eager to see completed.

"I saw four kids at that intersection tonight. It was scary. I can't get that done fast enough," said Town Councilor Edward Yazbak during last week's Town Council meeting.

In a telephone interview, Town Administrator Paulette Hamilton said she contacted DOT officials after North Smithfield Middle School student Scott Wright was killed.

On Nov. 3, 2010, the boy was attempting to cross the heavily traveled intersection at about 7 p.m. when he was hit by a minivan as he made his way through the crosswalk in front of Brigido's market.

He was later pronounced dead at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.

Calling the incident "such a tragedy" that impacted the entire community, Hamilton said she sought DOT's help to beef up safety at the intersection.

DOT staff immediately responded, repainting a faded crosswalk and striping down North Main Street and along Mechanic Street almost to Uxbridge, Hamilton said.

In the past year DOT has been conducting a traffic safety study.

Construction at the intersection should start by summer and be completed before the end of the year, according to information provided by DOT spokesperson Heidi Gudmundson.

The state agency plans include reprogramming the traffic signals so that all traffic is stopped when a pedestrian crosses at the intersection.

Digital timers will also be installed so that pedestrians know how long they have to cross the roadway before a green light signals vehicles to proceed.

Hamilton said DOT officials have expedited all the town's requests to make the intersection safer for pedestrians and bike riders.

"I can't say enough of how they've handled this," Hamilton said.

As a reminder of the tragedy, a white painted bicycle stands chained to a street sign marking the location of the fatal accident.

Visible to drivers, the memorial is known as a Ghost Bike and serves to promote cyclist safety, according to the website GhostBikes.org. Currently there are 490 such memorials in 180 locations around the world.