There will be some major changes for Big Country drivers who often use I-20.
It's an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents like the deadly accident on Friday where a driver failed to yield to an oncoming bus.
When it comes to driving etiquette on interstate access ramps in Abilene, it can be rather confusing for drivers.
"It's really hectic, really," said Clyde resident Jessica King.
"Especially you know you have to yield to get on or you have if people are getting off the highway," said Abilene resident Chris Perry.
"I've just seen near misses," said Diana Fambro.
It can also be dangerous.
"I was coming off the on ramp and he was still going and I almost ran into him and I had to slam on my break really hard," said King.
Drivers on access ramps onto I-20 in many parts of the Big Country are used to yield signs and making way for other drivers.
However, it may be new for out-of-townees.
"You may have drivers coming from the metro area such as Dallas/Fort Worth or even farther points from that who really are used to seeing one way frontage roads and this really is becoming the standard for urbanized areas," said Darah Waldrip, public information officer for the Texas Dept. of Transportation in Abilene.
It's a confusion that has lead to many more than 100 accidents during the last four years in Abilene alone- some even deadly.
"It really is much safer and much more helpful for the traffic flow to get traffic flowing all in one direction," said Waldrip.
Every access road from Pine St. to Loop 322 will now be strictly one way on either side.
The $11.4 million project should take about a year to complete.
"There are probably a few times that I'll start to want to go to one direction but I think overall, it will make more since to be one way, that's usually how access roads are, I don't know whey these aren't that way," said Perry.
So drivers can now get used to one way sharing- at least on the ramps.
Personnel from the Texas Dept. of Transportation have yet to release a specific date for when these changes will occur- however they guarantee it will be no later than the beginning of Oct.
It's an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents like the deadly accident on Friday where a driver failed to yield to an oncoming bus.
When it comes to driving etiquette on interstate access ramps in Abilene, it can be rather confusing for drivers.
"It's really hectic, really," said Clyde resident Jessica King.
"Especially you know you have to yield to get on or you have if people are getting off the highway," said Abilene resident Chris Perry.
"I've just seen near misses," said Diana Fambro.
It can also be dangerous.
"I was coming off the on ramp and he was still going and I almost ran into him and I had to slam on my break really hard," said King.
Drivers on access ramps onto I-20 in many parts of the Big Country are used to yield signs and making way for other drivers.
However, it may be new for out-of-townees.
"You may have drivers coming from the metro area such as Dallas/Fort Worth or even farther points from that who really are used to seeing one way frontage roads and this really is becoming the standard for urbanized areas," said Darah Waldrip, public information officer for the Texas Dept. of Transportation in Abilene.
It's a confusion that has lead to many more than 100 accidents during the last four years in Abilene alone- some even deadly.
"It really is much safer and much more helpful for the traffic flow to get traffic flowing all in one direction," said Waldrip.
Every access road from Pine St. to Loop 322 will now be strictly one way on either side.
The $11.4 million project should take about a year to complete.
"There are probably a few times that I'll start to want to go to one direction but I think overall, it will make more since to be one way, that's usually how access roads are, I don't know whey these aren't that way," said Perry.
So drivers can now get used to one way sharing- at least on the ramps.
Personnel from the Texas Dept. of Transportation have yet to release a specific date for when these changes will occur- however they guarantee it will be no later than the beginning of Oct.
Comments
So, hundreds or even thousands of local drivers that are used to this will now have to learn a new way versus some out of towners needing to pay attention to traffic signs. Does the "new way" not pose a safety problem on the locals? It is sad when anyone is in an accident but do they not have accidents on entrance/exit ramps where the access roads are one-way?
Oh- by the way, someone should really read these articles for errors and left out words before they are posted.
Larry L.
September 5, 2012 at 11:55 am
So, hundreds or even thousands of local drivers that are used to this will now have to learn a new way versus some out of towners needing to pay attention to traffic signs. Does the "new way" not pose a safety problem on the locals? It is sad when anyone is in an accident but do they not have accidents on entrance/exit ramps where the access roads are one-way?
Larry L.
September 5, 2012 at 11:54 am
You guys have spell check?
Danny S.
September 5, 2012 at 8:05 am
