CLEARWATER, Fla. — Big changes are coming to a dangerous intersection in Clearwater.
FDOT tells ABC Action News the blinking yellow yield left turn arrow in both directions of traffic at the intersection of Gulf to Bay and Belcher will only be used during the overnight hours. The change will happen by the end of the week.
The change comes just two days after a 27-year-old motorcyclist was hit at the intersection. Edward Lyons of Lakeland remains in the hospital. Clearwater Police say Lyons had a green light but a driver making a left-hand turn smashed into him.
We brought your concerns about the blinking yellow arrow straight to FDOT leaders who tell us they were looking into the changes before Monday's crash, but the crash is propelling the change forward.
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Dangerous by design? Drivers concerned over Gulf To Bay/Belcher intersection
It's welcoming news for drivers who came to ABC Action News with concerns about the yellow yield arrows.
“It’s difficult to use them,” explained Kyle Nolte, who works near the intersection. “There’s no way when you have four lanes of traffic you can see somebody on a motorcycle coming from the other direction," added Eric Glant, who used to live near the intersection.
FDOT plans to change the signal over by the end of the week. That means drivers will only see red and green turn arrows during rush hours.
These yellow arrows allow drivers turning left to yield to oncoming traffic. FDOT says the signals can help move traffic along at major intersections, but drivers say with three lanes of fast-moving vehicles, it's difficult to safely yield and even tougher to see every vehicle barreling in your direction.
Last November, ABC Action News took your concerns about the yellow yield arrows at Roosevelt and Dodge in Clearwater to FDOT leaders and also got those yellow arrows restricted to non-rush hours.
“Anything we can do to keep people safe is a good thing," Nolte added, "It’s upsetting to see another crash and more people getting hurt.”
