PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers in north Pinellas County are concerned about a recent traffic pattern change on East Lake Road and Tarpon Woods Boulevard.
For years, the northbound right lane on East Lake Road ended at the intersection. Over the summer, the county removed the cones and added another turn lane.
That means traffic now continues through the intersection and has to quickly merge with the other lanes in front of the Mobil gas station.
Bonnie Morgan, who lives in the Tarpon Woods community, said the new configuration has created problems for drivers and pedestrians.
“It’s a cluster. It has to be re-looked at,” Morgan said. “It was not bad the way it was.”
Morgan said the removal of the delineators allows drivers to continue straight through the signal at 50 mph before having to merge in less than 100 yards.
“The delineators are gone,” Morgan said. “And now you’re allowed to go straight at 50 mph through the signal and that’s what the problem is. Because that’s where you have less than 100 yards to merge into traffic.”
Morgan said she has seen several crashes where the merge happens and said some neighbors avoid walking in the area.
“I’ve got neighbors that don’t even walk past here because they’re too afraid,” Morgan said. “We witness the accidents; we’ve seen several. We hear the sirens all of the time.”
Pinellas County officials said the change was made to help with growing traffic congestion on East Lake Road while the county studies larger potential fixes.
Officials also said they are monitoring the issues there and may consider changes if needed.
Morgan said she wants the county to consider changing the intersection back, especially before seasonal residents return and encounter a traffic pattern they may not be used to.
“We don’t really know what happened or why,” Morgan said. “Something has to be done before someone gets really hurt.”