Attention Drivers:
The traffic light at the intersection in front of the Big Store is soon to be an active red light/green light. The signal has been a flashing light since Hurricane Ike. Officials believed there wasn’t enough traffic flow to warrant a red light, until now. So, starting September 9 (changed from August 21), the lights will be active. Please take caution and mind the traffic signals posted.
(published 8/12/2014, updated 8/14/2014)
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It would be great if there was someone locally that could change the lights as traffic increases and falls but regardless, this intersection needed to be made safer.
What is worse than waiting for a light to change is getting to the ferry and waiting from 2:30 am to 4:00 am for the ferry to fuel on the Galveston side. When only one ferry works at night it is a long wait any time of the year. Make sure you take drinks and snacks while you wait.
From Midnight till 6 am there is hardly any traffic on Hwy 87, 6-7 vehicles at most as I go to the ferry @ 4:30 am….why can’t they be working lights during the peak traffic hours and then turn to caution lights after midnight like some towns/cities do their traffic lights…???
All three lights operated red-green before Ike
Terrible time to activate that light. All winter going to work you will be sitting at that light by yourself with the SO on other side waiting on someone to run it.
Good example: When I lived far West End of Galveston people were griping that traffic was so bad in summer that people were having trouble getting in and out of the stat RV park on west end. So Txdot activated light at end of season. All winter I sat at that light by myself with GPD. It got so comical I would buy the officer coffee when I got mine at Jamaica beach.
Never has more truth rang in Reagan’s quote, “we are from the government and we are here to help”. If I remember correctly, Ike had nothing to do with that light. It always flashed, just like it does today.
I totally agree..we needed the lights to work during the summer, but why wait till it’s only the locals in the winter that has to be stuck at them?? Doesn’t make sense to me…LOL…they should be caution lights the day after Labor Day weekend thru Spring Break….JMO
Will they also be activating the light at Crystal Beach Road? This is hazardous as well. Not sure how Tx DOT could justify not activating this light. As a property owner off of Crystal Beach Road, I risk my life each time I need to go to HWY 87…
They have changed the dates on the sign to September 9th to activate the lights. Thanks William if there’s any way we can help let us know.
William knows best, This truly is a horrible idea and certainly shows how little TXDOT actually knows of our communities needs! Get ready EMS!
I think it is a horrible idea to activate these lights before Labor Day. There are so many visitors that have been coming here for years since Ike during the summer weekends only and are used to the flashing caution lights. Many will make one last trip here for the summer season and will not pay attention to the signage or the red lights. I understand people living in certain areas want them turned on because of the traffic hazards that are there when someone gets tired of waiting and decides to take a chance to beat oncoming traffic, but after Labor Day would make more sense and it would give residents and visitors alike 6 months to get used to them before our next big holiday in March. So I ask all residents to be extremely cautious during the Labor Day weekend. Even if you have a green light coming from a side street, check to make sure Highway traffic is stopped before proceeding.