Earlier this year, the Mojave County Board of Supervisors asked state officials to remove a recently installed traffic light on US 93, saying it could cause future accidents. That request was not heeded – and after several accidents, county officials were able to lodge a complaint with the local state legislature.
The traffic light in question was installed last year near the Last Stop Travel Center in the White Hills. And for highways designed to prioritize uninterrupted traffic flow, traffic lights are an unprepared interruption for many travelers, county officials say.
The Mojave County Board of Supervisors issued a request to the Arizona Department of Transportation on March 15 to remove the traffic lights. Transportation Director Jennifer Toth denied the request in a March 24 response.
Director of Transportation: “No”
“(The Department of Transportation) has considered the county’s concerns about signalized intersections and is focused on increasing safety while maintaining mobility along U.S. Route 93. cannot support the request of
US 93 provides direct routes from Arizona to Las Vegas to countless travelers each year. And near the Arizona-Nevada border, those travelers are bound to pass through the White Hills. White Hills is a census-designated community in Mojave County with a population of less than 400. It is also listed as one of the most dangerous highways in the United States.
And if US 93 development continues in western Arizona, traffic lights will be needed to keep US 93 public safe, Toth said.
“ADOT looks forward to working with Mojave County to develop short- and long-term improvements to this segment of US93,” Toth said. “Access will continue to be a problem until alternative options are implemented.
Department of Transportation officials hope to add US93 to the planned Interstate 11 to build an interstate highway from Nogales to Alberta. US 93 will eventually be updated to meet federal standards for rural interstates, Toth said. But until that happens, his US 93 in the White Hills will need proper traffic lights to control the access points along the highway.
Driving around the Department of Transportation
Mojave County Superintendent Buster Johnson said there had been several serious accidents near traffic lights, most recently on May 1, since they were installed. And with travelers to Las Vegas continuing to use the popular freeway, these accidents could continue to cause serious accidents. endangering the public.
“[The Arizona Department of Transportation]has no intention of addressing our concerns,” Johnson said in a proposal to take the matter to the state legislature. “There is probably little more we can do as a county, but we can ask Arizona legislators to look into this matter.”
The presence of stoplights in the White Hills, Johnson said, had its own implications, such as how they were installed without regard to the warrants required by Arizona’s Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Equipment. says it’s causing problems.
“US 93 is considered a major regional highway, which means that traffic is moving fast,” Johnson said. “This highway requires uninterrupted traffic flow conditions, but the installation of traffic lights negates that. prize.”
The Mojave County Board of Supervisors plans to discuss and possibly vote on whether to raise the issue with state legislators at its next board meeting in Kingman on Monday.
