Three months after a tragic collision, a busy, some call dangerous intersection is getting a traffic signal.
“Everybody was complaining about this intersection almost ever since I got here,” said James Creamer.
Creamer moved into the Riverstone subdivision four years ago.
For him, newly installed traffic lights are a welcome and highly anticipated sight.
“I am really happy that it’s finally going in. Sadly, it took the incident that happened a couple of months ago to get everybody moving more quickly,” said Creamer.
On the morning of Dec. 5, Jaxon Crabtree, 15, was hit by a school bus while trying to cross West Pipkin Road and Medulla Road to get to the Central Florida Aerospace Academy.
There were traffic control cones, but no traffic lights or crosswalks.
“What steps can we take to have all the kids make it to school and make it home from school in one piece?” said Crabtree’s father, Jason Crabtree , shortly after his son’s death.
Per his agreement with the City of Lakeland from 2018, Riverstone developer, JD Alexander, was required to install a traffic signal in the intersection.
County commissioners were briefed on the progress Friday.
“Starting in the middle of February, construction and installation of mast arms and pavement markings has begun,” said deputy county manager of infrastructure Ryan Taylor. “The divider sticks that separates the median traffic and directional control. Those will be removed a week prior to the signal being in full operation.”
He said the traffic signal should be fully operational by March 20.
The county is also adding a sidewalk in the area that should be completed by the next school year.