Largo drivers are frustrated with the traffic at West Bay Drive and Missouri Avenue.

Viewer Monica Kauffman says two things cause many of the traffic problems at the intersection. One of them is the median.

"The median blocks vehicles from being able to merge into left-turning lanes onto Missouri Avenue," Kauffman wrote in an email.

Then, once in the turn lane, the signals don't seem to cycle correctly, which creates traffic jams.

As with many roads in the Bay area, a few agencies are responsible for the intersection. The City of Largo is responsible for West Bay Drive, the state for East Bay Drive and Missouri Avenue and the county is responsible for the timing of the traffic signals.

Carol Stricklin, who works with the Largo Community Development Department, tried to help sort out the issue.

"So we first look at operational issue," she said. What's going on with those turn lanes? Is it signal timing? Are there enforcement issues that Largo PD needs to go look at with our traffic enforcement? So we try to solve problems operationally first before we look at modifying the intersection itself."

If there are any physical changes to be made, there are some additional challenges. The road is essentially in
Largo's downtown, and the train tracks cross at the same location. That would bring a fourth agency into the mix: CSX.

"That stretch of West Bay Drive between Missouri and Clearwater-Largo Road," Stricklin said. "We're looking at pedestrian safety, Americans with Disabilities Act, pavement conditions and if we identify a safety problem at that intersection, we'd include that in our study as well."

Those studies won't happen for at least another year, which means another year of traffic backups for drivers in that part of Pinellas County.