HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — ABC Action News followed up on improvements at a dangerous intersection near Farnell Middle School and Bryant Elementary School.
It’s near Nine Eagles Drive and Race Track Road.
DRIVING TAMPA BAY FORWARD | The latest headlines on safety and infrastructure in the Tampa Bay area
Last year a child was hit by a car walking home from school.
“There’s a number of kids walking across, a very busy pedestrian-oriented intersection,” said Bob Campbell, Hillsborough County Transportation Services Manager.
For years, parents have complained about the traffic issues in the area and pushed for safety improvements.
“We started getting complaints as the school enrollment got larger and larger,” said Campbell.
The traffic would get so backed up that drivers would hop over the median, into oncoming traffic just to get around it.
“The cars were backing into the thru lane so the people coming on Nine Eagles could not go south,” said Campbell.
Law enforcement was at the schools almost daily to make sure no one got hurt.
Hillsborough County made several traffic improvements over the summer, including widening Nine Eagles Drive, lengthening the turn lane to the schools, making the signs more visible, and reprogramming traffic signals.
So far, the county says the changes are working well.
“It’s yes it’s much better. Some people are very happy about the results,” said Campbell.
Officials are still monitoring the area to see if they need to make any other improvements.
