Anyone who lived through Florida's last round of major hurricanes in 2004 remembers one of the problems was with traffic signals not working as storms rolled through.

An effort is now underway to make traffic signals hurricane-resistant — in both inland and coastal communities.

Drivers on State Road 200 in Marion County earlier this week noticed what appeared to be crews changing out dozens of traffic lights. They were actually changing out the supports holding the lights, which are called hangers.

The Florida Department of Transportation gave the program the green light late last year in District 5 and, so far, thousands of hangers have been replaced at more than 200 intersections in Volusia and Brevard counties.

The state is currently in the process of doing the same at 87 intersections in Marion County. The goal is to help the lights sustain hurricane-strength winds of up to 110 mph. To do that, it's important for the lights to have the ability to pivot.

All traffic lights installed since 2012 have been placed on new hangers, and the Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of retrofitting every signal on state roadways.

The portion of the project, which is covering Brevard, Volusia, Marion and Flagler counties, will cost about $1.5 million. Retrofits have already been completed along Florida's west coast and in South Florida.

Signals in Flagler County will get changed out next.

Richard Morevec, a traffic safety engineer for Marion County, said it's unlikely the county will see similar conditions along the coast. Residents, however, said they are happy to be included in the program.

"At least it saves lives," Morevec said. "Not coming down and hitting somebody. If it stays up there, all the better."

When new traffic lights are added at intersections on Marion County-maintained roads, they are being installed to meet new state standards.

County officials said they have no plans of replacing old signals unless they find mechanical or structural defects.

For information on when roads or lanes will be closed as traffic signals are changed out in Marion County, go here.