ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Drivers are hoping for a change in the new year at a busy intersection in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas County resident Tom Campbell says making a left turn from 1st Avenue North to Pasadena Ave can be frustrating.
“In some ways, you take your life in your hands it feels like. If you’re a gambler, it’s great,” Campbell said.
He says it can be hard to see oncoming traffic due to the bend in the road as he crosses three lanes of traffic on Pasadena Avenue.
“It’s an awkward position. You’re in your car and you’re sort of craning around to see. I don’t care what age you are. It’s a rough intersection,” Campbell said.
Then once drivers cross, Campbell says they can be stuck in the median as they try to squeeze into stopped traffic.
“It’s a really horrible feeling as you can imagine. You don’t want people mad at you,” Campbell said.
The alternative is to use another road like Central Ave.
However, Campbell says many GPS apps will send drivers though 1st and Central instead.
“And then you’re stuck there. You’re basically stuck there. You’re thinking, 'What am I going to do?' And when it finally does clear, how do you know there’s not a stray car coming from where the road bends,” Campbell said.
Florida Department of Transportation officials say they will do a traffic study on the intersection starting in January to see if any safety changes can be made.
They also added that improvements were made to the road in April 2024 to enhance the lane markings and pavement.
Campbell is hoping a traffic light can be added or another measure to help drivers get through.
“This is a mess all the way around. And the odd thing is, the GPS keeps sending people this way,” Campbell said.