OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. \u2014\u00a0Osceola County is making some changes after a number of crashes at an intersection near Florida\u2019s Turnpike.<\/p>\n
Art Moniz contacted Traffic Inbox because where he lives off Coralwood Circle, it\u2019s often congested.<\/p>\n
His neighborhood is next to the Osceola Parkway and Florida\u2019s Turnpike interchange.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s no way that I’m going to take a chance of trying to make a left-hand turn here,\u201d Moniz said, pointing to the crowded intersection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Moniz said most of the problems occur when eastbound drivers on Osceola Parkway are looking to make a left turn onto Coralwood Circle because traffic congestion forces them to snake through two backed-up lanes of westbound traffic. But those backups also block the view of the far lane, he said, which is a free-flowing ramp to Florida\u2019s Turnpike.<\/p>\n
According to information from Osceola County, there were 16 crashes involving those left turns at the intersection between 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cA fella just slammed on his brakes, and it was a very near miss,\u201d Moniz said, recalling one close call he has had at the intersection. \u201cAnd I had the green light.\u201d<\/p>\n
Osceola County found most of those left-turn crashes took place when drivers had a flashing yellow arrow, which allows drivers to turn after yielding to oncoming traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s so dangerous that I have to wait here,\u201d Moniz said. \u201cA lot of times the people behind me will start blowing the horn because I (use) caution.\u201d<\/p>\n
To reduce the number of crashes, county officials plan to eliminate the flashing yellow arrow between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., when most of the incidents occurred.<\/p>\n
Now, eastbound Osceola Parkway drivers looking to make a left turn onto Coralwood Circle will only be able to do so when they\u2019ve got a green arrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis change removes the need for drivers to judge gaps in traffic when visibility is restricted,\u201d said Tyler Winik, director of communications for Osceola County.<\/p>\n
Outside of those hours, the current yellow flashing signal will remain to avoid unnecessary delays during quieter times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe westbound left turn will continue to be monitored, as crash data does not show a similar pattern in that direction,\u201d Winik said.<\/p>\n
Moniz said he hopes the changes at the intersection will make it less dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said he wants to make sure he and his wife of nearly 60 years are safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife and I, we say, \u2018Be careful, think of the other guy’,” he said. “We give each other a good kiss, and so far, everything’s OK.”<\/p>\n
Moniz said another issue is drivers trying to make an illegal U-turn at Osceola Parkway and Coralwood Circle.<\/p>\n
County officials said they plan to monitor the intersection, especially as a turnpike widening project continues near the intersection.<\/p>\n