To the Editor:
I agree with the many residents who have complained about the ridiculous new improvements on State Road 200.
The addition of “flower beds” only decreased the available width of traffic lanes. Don’t we already have enough accidents without reducing the lane width? What purpose do these flower beds serve?
With all the new construction ripping out every green space in the city, the traffic is abhorrent.
At Highway 484 and Interstate 75, the exit and entrance ramp widening has been going on forever with little progress. It has taken me more than one hour and 15 minutes to travel 6 miles.
It’s horrible to try and time your travel for appointments; I have to leave myself at least an hour or more just to drive into Ocala from my home in Marion Oaks. I have no option but to travel on CR 484 or cross over to SW 49th Ave. The back up of cars in the mornings and afternoons is mind boggling; one day will be a huge backup, the next there will be none or very little.
How do you deal with this on a daily basis? Lights are not properly timed and if you want safety, make all cross road turn lanes controlled by arrows. But I’ve seen many people now make a left turn or U-turn on a red arrow. Where is that legal?
The accidents will continue to increase due to poorly planned roads and the apathy of drivers out there who are only thinking of themselves with little concern for others.
Cheryl Pfeil
Ocala