Published: May 16, 2008 10:34 am            

Lights go up at Vista Lane

EDMOND — Thomas Marshall has waited in anticipation for the glow of new traffic lights at the intersection of Vista Lane and Second Street. His patience faded to concern as construction ceased in the area for several days. Meanwhile, the installation of a new traffic light at Second Street and Bradbury Drive has made driving from Bradbury Corner more safe.

Marshall said it’s been difficult for Vista Lane area residents to turn west on Second Street from Vista Lane.

“This will be a tremendous improvement,” he said. “We have family members with grandkids driving in and out. It’s horrendous.”

The placement of traffic lights at Second Street and Vista Lane and Second Street and Bradbury Drive is one project, said Steve Manek, Edmond’s director of engineering. Work on the $1.7 million project began a year ago and its completion is near, Manek said. Turning on the lights at Vista Lane has been delayed due to a crack in new concrete pavement.

“We don’t want to install the signal loops in cracked pavement,” Manek said. “So the contractor is back removing the concrete it’s going to replace, then we can saw cut in the loops and then place the permanent striping.”

Manek said the weather will be a factor in completing the project because new concrete cannot be poured in wet conditions. Otherwise, concrete will be placed by the end of this week and the lights could be ready sometime next week.

“It’s sure been a long haul,” Marshall said. “Some people wait there and wait there in their cars and finally just go for it, and they don’t always make the best decisions.”

The most recent daily traffic count on this intersection is 26,745 vehicles per day. Ten collisions occurred at Vista Lane and Second Street in 2007, making it the 20th most dangerous intersection in Edmond, said Charlie Lee, assistant traffic planner.

Nine of those accidents were rear-end collisions, he said. Five of the collisions were on Second Street; four were on Vista Lane. One collision involved a driver making a left turn off Vista Lane.

Tim Reese of the Bradbury Corner addition spoke at the Edmond City Council Monday night on behalf of his neighborhood in thanking the city for installing a traffic light at the intersection of Bradbury Drive and Second Street.

“It is our hope that this improvement will make Edmond a safer place,” Reese said. “This particular intersection resulted in numerous traffic accidents including cars crashing through the brick wall and into a home at the entrance of our housing addition, and unfortunately at least two fatalities.”

        

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