The lights will be for the pedestrian crossing only, which has been moved a number of times in an attempt to make it safer.
But some Waitaki District councillors were not happy with the idea yesterday.
Cr Struan Munro said the intersection had "been hashed around" on a number of occasions and said motorists would hardly see the lights as they came up the hill before the crossing.
Cr Jim Hopkins said the lights were "absolute rubbish", but Cr Gary Kircher said the Junction pedestrian crossing was dangerous and lights would make it safer for pedestrians.
The crossing, at the intersection of State Highway 1 with Awamoa Rd and Wansbeck St, is partly obscured by the brow of a hill and the Junction Hotel building.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has decided to install crossing lights for pedestrians.
Waitaki District Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said sensor pads would be installed in the footpath. If a pedestrian pushed the button and crossed the road before the signals changed, the sensor would detect that.
The signals would not be activated so traffic would not be delayed.
The signals were expected to be installed next month.
Five sets of traffic lights were installed on SH1 through central Oamaru as part of a $3.2 million safety project which was completed earlier this year.
