BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Some motorists claim that a new traffic signal installed by Florida’s Department of Transportation is confusing and may cause a crash.
Last Friday, FDOT installed traffic signals at the intersection of State Road 100 and U.S. 301 while opening the S.R. 100 westbound left turn lane coming off the railroad overpass.
Workers also partially opened a westbound frontage road from downtown, although, at the time of this writing, the road could only be accessed from the Walgreens parking lot.
Two sets of traffic signals control westbound S.R. 100 traffic and the frontage road, one above the western crosswalk traversing S.R. 100 from the Shell station to CVS and one above the eastern crosswalk from Walgreens to Sonny’s.
According to the paint on the frontage road, motorists may turn left or right from the lane or proceed straight across 301. However, to allow traffic from the frontage road to turn left or proceed across 301, the signals must hold westbound traffic coming off the bridge while motorists exit the frontage lane.
Therefore, when the signal controlling the frontage road over the east crosswalk turns green, allowing cars on the frontage road to proceed, the traffic signal over the west crosswalk remains red, holding the westbound traffic coming off the bridge. This forces cars exiting the frontage road and proceeding across 301 to travel directly under a red light, causing many to pause or stop in confusion.
Several residents have expressed their frustrations with the new signals on Facebook.
Shelby Parmenter: “The mastermind behind the intersection of HWY 301 and SR 100 westbound coming off the overpass should be fired immediately. What an absolute nightmare.”
“It’s awful! All three lanes are so confused on which light pertains to them and what they are supposed to do. We have already witnessed several ‘almost’ accidents.”
Tracy KT Toms: “It’s ridiculous and scary! A red light for each lane? Not safe at all.”
Chelsea Woodard: “Blows my mind who would come up with such a plan but even more so, who approved that.”
Tisha Calderin: “100% truth!!! It’s a complete nightmare. I can see so many accidents happening because of it.”
When asked about the negative comments about the signals, the Department of Transportation issued the following statement.
“Safety is the number one priority of the FDOT. With new traffic patterns, movements are learned, and signals can be enhanced. FDOT is aware of public feedback regarding the new signals at S.R. 100 and U.S. 301 (and) is working to enhance signal clarity for westbound movements from S.R. 100 and the Frontage Road.”
Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said he had not received any complaints about the intersection and had not driven it himself.
“I’ve been avoiding the overpass,” he said. “I take Call Street through downtown instead.”
