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FDOT: Molino Intersection Is Dangerous, New Traffic Light Can Cut Crashes
June 10, 2015
The intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino is dangerous and needs the traffic signal that was activated Thursday to cut injury crashes, according to state officials.
A Florida Department of Transportation study found that there were 37 documented crashes at the intersection during the 2008 to 2013 period, and the FDOT said 22 of the reported crashes could have been prevented by a traffic signal.
Of the 37 total crashes, one or more people were transported to the hospital as the result of 10 accidents.
In the last three years, the number of reported crashes at the 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.
Crash statistics for 2014 and 2015 have not been released, but there were numerous additional serious crashes at the intersection, including one that claimed the life of a 16-year old high school student.
Led by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, the Escambia County Commission agreed to fund the signal installation. Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Rep. Doug Broxson, Rep. Mike Hill, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Senate President Don Gaetz all advocated for FDOT to make safety improvements at the intersection.
The new signal at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 was activated Thursday.
Pictured: Traffic crashes at the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “FDOT: Molino Intersection Is Dangerous, New Traffic Light Can Cut Crashes”
Anyone that thinks another traffic light will solve the traffic crashes at any given red light in Pensacola needs to think again and drive defensively. I drive for a living and I encounter drivers ignoring red lights on an almost daily basis.
I noticed there isn’t a sign prohibiting U-turns on Hwy 29. Wasn’t that one of the things all this work was supposed to address? U-turns across traffic into the Tom Thumb parking lot?
I would wager someone on 97 with a green light will be hit by a 29 driver running this light. Not knowing they put a light up since he went down that road 3 months ago .before August 1.hope it doesn’t happen. Guess 196 and 29 will be next
Its’ there. It’s on. Get used to it.
I live on Hwy 97 close to the Farm Bureau. I for one, am all for this light. It surely cannot make the intersection more dangerous than it already is. I’m ready to try something new, and hopefully this will be an improvement. Yes, there will still be accidents there, as with any intersection. But, I’m hoping and praying that just the presence of the light (a real functioning red light other than a flashing one) will alert drivers to at least slow down upon approaching. It will take some getting use to for everyone but I’m definitely an advocate of trying this avenue. It’s better than nothing. I have a 19 year old son who drives through that intersection multiple times a day. And yes I worry every time he leaves home, like any mother. If this light deters some (and hopefully most) of the accidents there you better believe I support it. I don’t understand why some of you people are so bitter about this. Yeah people are careless and not paying attention while driving, agreed, but thats always going to be the case. Some people are just idiots, nothing we can do about that. Lets give the light a chance before we condemn it. I hope and pray all you nay-sayers eat your words and the intersection accidents become a thing of the past.
Although, I do agree with the problem about turning onto Crabtree Church Road-that could definitely cause accidents for sure, just from the traffic congestion trying to turn there. They may want to re-think that move, although its a little late in the game now. We shall see…….
Human errors for sure !!!! That is the main cause for ALL accidents that have happened at that particular intersection. People are in a hurry to DIE I believe since that intersection is completely OPEN to where you can clearly see traffic coming at you from both North-29 AND South 29. People making U-TURNS when they are not supposed to is a major concern even though they have extended the median. Nothing you can do about idiots that can not read but terrible others have to suffer from them idiots not obeying the law.
I’m gonna join Molinoman. Highway 31 is the longest highway in America. In pretty much every municipality is goes through (around here, at least) it is multi-laned, so I think that constitutes a “major highway.” If you travel it, you will see that there are traffic lights on 31 in almost every town or city through which it passes. Based on your statement about Highway 29, JW, the lights in Cantonment, Ensley, and even Pensacola should not be there.
That statement is not even remotely logical OR sensible.
And as far as all these other things that some say need to be done (warning signs, “rumble strips,” etc.) that would indeed help, but I would venture to say that the overwhelming majority of the people who travel through that intersection are local. That would mean those same people (“locals”) are the ones who are involved in the majority of the accidents. Maybe in the VERY near future signs and such will be installed, but why keep putting off activating the light? Its purpose is to save lives. If activating the light will decrease the accidents by over 59% (“22 of the [37] reported crashes could have been prevented by a traffic signal”), then maybe it should have been activated the day it was installed!
@molinoman Thank you for your kind words. Look, I do know folks who have lost family members at this intersection, and for that I am terribly heartbroken about it and wish that it never happened. I do truly hope the lights actually help slow down accidents, but they will NEVER stop incidents from happening there. Especially with a convenience store there. People are going to drive how they want to drive. Next thing you know we will be placing traffic lights on I-10.
Wasted money. People are at fault. They do not pay attention
@JW ‘You don’t place stop lights on major highways’
That is the most idiotic statement I have read so far in this whole ‘red light/no red light’ debate.
Does the intersection need to be reworked? Of course. But saying no red light is needed, or needed on a major highway is just loonacy.
I’ll tell you what my grandpa said to me when I started driving. Don’t worry about what the other idiots are doing, worry about what you are doing and pay attention.
God bless.
I travel through this intersection at least twice a day going to and from work, since they have extended the medium I have seen MORE people make the u-turn into the Tom Thumb. This was not extended to make it easier to turn in to the Tom Thumb people it’s supposed to prevent it!! But as JW mentioned, human error is human error…a light won’t fix that…only common sense will.
I agree with “just saying.” You are definitely going to have a problem with turning left onto Crabtree Church Road from Hwy 29. I like the idea of the bumpy white lines as well. Bottom line, Im glad they have decided to put a light there. But, there needs to be a few things done before activating it.
You don’t place stop lights on major highways…….enough said…no need to debate. Human error is human error. Also, people are still “U-turning” off Hwy 29 North into the Tom Thumb, even though the median has been extended to prevent that…they apparently don’t read…again human error.
>>>I hear the accidents and the fire trucks, etc. at least once a week at this intersection. FDOT only reports the FHP accidents.
Perhaps you hear the fire trucks travel through the intersection or to a medical emergency at the Tom T. But there is not an accident at least once per week at the intersection. And the FHP responds to every accident that involves injury or property damage.
Why?
This light is not ready to be put into use on Thursday there are many things that need to be done before that happens
1 why not put the signs up that picture a stop light with the flashing light on top of the sign. Cantonment light by 95a has them and also the light by Winn Dixie these were put up before those lights were activated. They need to be put up from every direction that approach this light
2 why not put the white bumpy lines in the road from every direction to remind drivers of the up coming light
3 there is no turning lane for the people turning left off of 29 to turn onto Crabtree this is going to cause back up into 29
I wish they would do these things first before turnin the light on
I hope it doesn’t take someone dying first before its done It won’t be the local people that cause the accident it will be the ones who don’t travel through here often
I am glad to see this. There have many more than 38 accidents. Just ask anyone who lives close to here. I hear the accidents and the fire trucks, etc. at least once a week at this intersection. FDOT only reports the FHP accidents.