Red light needed for dangerous intersection

Red light needed for dangerous intersection

By MELISSA BURNSED

MACCLENNY, FL - The City of Macclenny has been seeking a red light for the intersection of George Hodges Road and State Road 121, near the I-10 overpass, for several years. At their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, the city council voted to renew their request for a signal light because they believe the intersection is unsafe.

"To wait until someone gets killed would be a big mistake," said Councilman Phil Rhoden who travels through the area daily on his way to work. "I can’t drive by without seeing close calls every time," he added.

Increased traffic from the adjacent commercial strip, along with more than a thousand employees and delivery trucks traveling to and from Northeast Florida State Hospital all combine to create lengthy backups for drivers trying to exit the interstate.

Earlier requests to the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) for a red light to help alleviate the hazardous location have been rejected. A study conducted years ago recorded a low volume of automobile accidents and was cited as the reason DOT determined the location didn’t merit the expense of a four way red light.

DOT had acquiesced to installing a light as part of recent negotiation with Lowes’ representatives about the possibility of locating a store, whose traffic would have used the intersection as the primary access point. The estimated expenses of more than $100 thousand would have been paid by Lowes, as part of their costs for mitigation of the big box mega-store’s impact on the area transportation system.

However, Lowes has subsequently informed the city that they won’t be locating in Macclenny at this time. DOT followed that announcement by retreating to their former position that the intersection doesn’t warrant a signal.

That decision doesn’t sit well with the city council who expressed unanimous concern and approval of a motion to have staff pursue another formal request for the light.

Macclenny Fire Chief Buddy Dugger, who was in attendance at the meeting, added his views. "We feel it is imperative for public safety at that intersection. Rather we need to be proactive because one person has already been killed in a motorcycle accident at that intersection and several others wrecks occurred with it as a contributing factor."

Chief Dugger will be pulling the number of accidents that his department has responded to at the site, to help bolster the request to DOT.

"Regardless of whose toes we step on, or if we have to go over people’s heads, we need to do this," said Mr. Rhoden.