PALMETTO, Fla. -- A new traffic signal in Palmetto is causing problems for drivers.
A Spectrum Bay News 9 viewer reached out to our Real Time Traffic expert, Chuck Henson, for help.
- Signal located at Ellenton-Gillette Road, 69th Street East
- Opposite green arrow often triggers, resident said
- State installed signal, Manatee County maintains it
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The signal is at the intersection of Ellenton-Gillette Road and 69th Street East. Folks who drive through the area were excited to see some order come to the daily commute.
But Sam Lindsay thinks someone may have crossed some wires when the signal was installed.
"If you're in the westbound lane and trying to get into the turn lane, the opposite green arrow is the one that lights up if your side is the only side going for a turn," Lindsay said. "So, if you go from the other direction, coming into the other turn lane, it's the opposite green arrow that actually triggers."
Lindsay shot video of the intersection last week. At one point the light turns green, and the only car waiting to make a left turn is facing the video. There was no one in the opposite turn lane, yet that lane got the protected green arrow.
His concern is that most of the signals here are supposed to be smart signals, meaning the programming learns from the traffic flow and adjusts the timing of the lights accordingly.
"The one other problem with the light is it's not long enough for the westbound traffic in the morning. That's the majority of the traffic in the morning, and it's just not long enough," Lindsay said. "Normally it's a fairly calm intersection, but lately it's been backing up a quarter to a half a mile."
There is only one lane in each direction, and making a change so westbound morning traffic gets priority would really help.
The signal is only eight weeks old. The state put it in, but it's Manatee County who maintains it.
"There was some confusion over which entity had control for the timing of the signal," said Nicholas Azzara with Manatee County. "But once we determined it was Manatee County, the issues were resolved this morning."