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FDOT Details Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Signal Plans, Crash Stats
November 14, 2014
The Florida Department of Transportation has detailed their timetable for installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. The intersection has seen numerous crashes over the past several years – including two major wrecks within the past week, one of which claimed the life of a Northview High student.
The installation is set to begin in December at a cost of $264,400 which was paid by Escambia County on October 29. Construction is expected to be complete by February 2015.
A FDOT “Signal Warrant Study” found the following information that supported the urgent need for a traffic signal at the intersection:
- There have been 37 documented crashes reported by the Crash Analysis Reporting System from 2008 to 2013.
- 10 of the reported collisions resulted in injury where one or more people required transportation to a medical facility.
- 22 of the reported crashes were of the type of collisions susceptible to correction by the installation of a traffic signal.
- In 2011 there were five left-turn crashes.
- In 2012 there were eight left-turn crashes.
- In the last three years, the number of reported crashes at this intersection was significantly greater than the statistical average of similar roadway facilities in FDOT’s District 3, which is made up of the 16 westernmost Counties in the panhandle.
Led by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, the Escambia County Commission agreed to fund the signal installation. A second upcoming project will redesign the intersection of Crabtree Church Road and Highway 97, which is currently just feet away from Highway 29.
Darion Riley, 16, passed away Tuesday following a Friday, November 7 crash at the intersection [read more]. That crash injured two other people. Saturday night, the intersection was the scene of another accident, this one involving an Escambia County deputy and a passenger vehicle [read more]. There were no injuries in that crash.
Pictured top: A 16-year old passed away a few days after this November 7 wreck at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. Pictured below: The occupants in this car were uninjured in a collision with an Escambia County deputy in the same intersection on November 8. NorthEcambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
17 Responses to “FDOT Details Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Signal Plans, Crash Stats”
The speed limit is already 55 mph from Fran’s Diner and North up to the TT. But does any one care?
Today for instance, I was in the area slowing to turn in for gas. People were riding my bumper, flashing their lights, then giving me the “bird” as they went past.
You don’t need a light. You need manners!
Are they going to lower the speed limit in that area? It seems to me that would help, too.
If the state and or county knows that the intersection is not safe or is dangerous, then why not put a patrol vehicle there with lights flashing 24/7 until the light is installed? I see deputies and FHP in the Molino area all the time sitting in the church parking lots or shade tree’s. It seems like negligence on the part of the state or county for not doing something so easy that is well with in their power to save lives. During Halloween I could see the lights from the patrol vehicle in front of the church long before I ever saw the caution light at Tom Thumb. (Traveling from the north)
no lights is going to stop drivers daring need to be in front of the line,, Untill drivers stop ,look and judge safty they will continue to Stop on red and pull out or do a rolling stop any way,, I know the young man from Nokomis and am not gonna judge him BUT as it said ,He had a blocked view and decided to pull out anyway,, 1 more thing I do not believe a 16 year old shoud been allowed that far on his own,, I know my child would not been allowed to leave the area we live in ,,Parents tighten up o driving restictions too
It’s not just coming out of Tom thumb. Traffic coming n going to interstate 65. People going to n from casino. If it only saves one life it could be someone u love next.
@Crash Helmet
Nobody said a signal would cease all accidents. Less accidents would occur due to a more regulated flow of traffic through the intersection. The fatal accident last Friday night could have probably been avoided had there been a traffic signal. People will still run the light and accidents will still happen, but it’s ignorant to say that a traffic signal would not help make the intersection safer.
I agree with Jane, 100%. For the one’s of us that live, drive by, or drive through this intersection almost daily, those stats are hard to believe. I think that most of the north end of the county look on northescambia.com or talk to each other daily about the accidents at “The Tom Thumb”.
So if the Crash Analysis Reporting System is only reporting “Crashes”…that’s a “Crash” every 49 days for the past 5 years at this intersection. That’s horrible its taken this long for something to be done.
These are two state roads. The state has jurisdiction and responsibility for them, not the county.
Even though the county is chipping in county tax dollars, we the people are still at the mercy of what the state will do.
So, after the signal is installed and wrecks continue to happen at that intersection, who will be to blame then?
Guided dashed turn lines, no left turn from Tom Thumb, extended medians, and raised concrete barriers in the Tom Thumb Parking Lot will help this intersection greatly. Nothing will rid of all crashes but this will greatly decrease the number of the crashes at that intersection.
>>>Could you please add the drawing of the changes that are to be made. A group of friends were talking about this just last night.
Done. Clicking the drawing above opens a pdf, and you can zoom into any part of the pdf to see the details.
Jane,
Perhaps the low number is because the study only counted wrecks in the intersection.
Not all of the wrecks from vehicles exiting/entering the Tom Thumb or any others near by.
@ Jane….my questions too.!!!
Question, are ALL crashes reported by Sheriff Dept to the FDOT or some official state agency?
If so, do the state / local agencies include all the “Stats” or only a portion of them?
Reason for asking is that the “Stats” always seem to show fewer accidents than we citizens and motorists seem to see.
Maybe it’s just my perception but sure seems more minor to very serious vehicle crashes than we see written in the Stats.
It is a shame that the county has to rely on statistics from accidents before they will install a light. This is a very dangerous intersection and should have had one put up years ago. Its really sad that the county can spend millions of dollars on things that dont amount to a hill of beans and yet allow so many lives to be in danger and so many lives taken too early before something is done. That is way too messed up.
UNTILL THE INSTALLATION OF A 4 WAY STOP AT BERRYDALE CROSS ROADS, THERE WERE PLENTY OF WRECKS THERE. SINCE THEN, I DONT KNOW IF I HAVE EVEN HEARD OF A FENDER BENDER. THE ARTICLE STATES THAT 60% OF THE WRECKS IN MOLINO, COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY INSTALLING A RED LIGHT, THAT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER. TYPICAL POLITICS IN MOTION, LETS WAIT UNTIL WE GET ALL THE NUMBERS IN BEFORE WE ACT ON THIS….OR HERE’S ONE, ITS VOTING SEASON, LETS ACT LIKE WE REALLY CARE….
William,
Could you please add the drawing of the changes that are to be made. A group of friends were talking about this just last night.
I am sorry but i do not believe the stats on the accidents that have happened there at 29 and 97. I live close enough to hear these and I can tell you there have been at least 10 every month and this was confirmed for the neighborhood watch by the fire department who had to respond to these accidents. I don’t know how they are getting the numbers on accidents here but if you ask anyone who lives around there you will get the same disbelief that you are getting from me. How exactly are they getting these numbers?