TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A big change is coming Tuesday for thousands of Tallahassee drivers.
The new traffic light at Thomasville Road and Velda Dairy Road will begin operating on Tuesday morning. Drivers coming from Velda Dairy will now be able to turn left onto Thomasville Road.
The new intersection also creates an extension of Velda Dairy Road, connecting it through to Ox-Bottom Road.
Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch says the project has been in the works for about 10 years.
“This is a probably 10-year-long plan to both develop this corner commercially but also to create an extension of Velda Dairy Road,” Welch said.
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Welch said the Florida Department of Transportation funded the intersection along with the City of Tallahassee.
“It’s a plan that’s been long in the books to try and create better traffic flow, a more safe traffic flow at this intersection of Velda Dairy Road and Thomasville Road,” Welch said.
He says safety was a major reason for the change.
“It’s the government’s duty to ensure safety — to ensure transportation safety and pedestrian safety — and so as more people access this commercial development, these improvements were planned to enhance those elements,” he said.
But some residents who live off Ox-Bottom Road say they’re concerned about what this could mean for traffic.
“It’s already backed up. It’s been going on already, right without the signal. It’s already going on a lot. I don’t know how much I think it’s going to be now with all this traffic coming in and slowing down. It’s going to be a lot,” said homeowner Chandrea Mullangi.
Residents like homeowner Frank Overdyke on Ox-Bottom will now have to turn right at Velda Dairy to get onto Thomasville Road. Before, they could turn right directly from Ox-Bottom.
“It won’t be as convenient. We’ll have to loop around the gas station and things of that nature. But in the big scheme of things, and probably looking 10 years down the road, for all the folks that live off of Velda Dairy that don’t have to go to Kerry Forest anymore, that will be a great help for them,” Overdyke said.
Homeowners like Kristen Andersonon on Velda Dairy say they’ve been waiting for the change.
“It’ll benefit because I don’t have to go over and make that U-turn. I can just make a quick little turn across the street now, so it’ll be nice for us,” Anderson said.
Commissioners say they’re asking for patience as drivers adjust to the new traffic pattern. They suggest planning ahead and giving yourself extra time during Tuesday morning’s commute.
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