The city of Conroe has begun work to add flashing yellow lights to 26 locations across Conroe to make left turns safer for drivers, according to city officials.
Tommy Woolley, the director of capital projects and transportation for the city, said the lights will help mitigate the confusion for left turns, particularly green turn signals, during which drivers must yield to oncoming traffic.
“Research has shown that the new flashing yellow arrow signals are safer and more easily understood by drivers than the traditional ‘yield on green’ signals,” Woolley said. “These new signals provide additional opportunities for a driver to make a safe left turn than traditional signals.”
These lights are a new standard from the Texas Department of Transportation, which conducted research indicating the flashing signal is safer and more efficient, according to Woolley. The lights will gradually replace the traditional circular green signals used for “yield on green” left turns.
According to the general criteria for flashing yellow arrows from the city, the best traffic areas for these lights are ones with low to moderate traffic but a higher number of accidents compared to traffic stops with only protected left turns. The project began in January, and the estimated completion date has yet to be announced. The entire project cost the city $798,207.
Pollok Drive replacement
The city of Conroe’s project to replace the asphalt along Pollok Drive with concrete is substantially complete. As of Jan. 30, contractor Larry Young Paving had 99% of the work completed and is waiting for final striping before the project is officially complete.
Timeline: February 2019- January 2020
Cost: $7.4 million
Funding sources: Conroe Industrial Development Corp., city of Conroe
Conroe bus routes and sidewalks
A combined project to improve 16 bus stops, seven bus stop shelters and eight benches and to install 2,175 feet of sidewalks along Sgt. Ed Holcomb Boulevard from Conroe 9th Grade High School Campus to FM 2854 is substantially complete.
Timeline: June 2019-February 2020
Cost: $349,770
Funding source: city of Conroe
