BARTOW, Fla. — After dozens of crashes at an infamous intersection in Bartow, the Florida Department of Transportation said it would make safety changes.
10 Investigates followed up a year later and found out FDOT has taken the first step, but step two could still be a long way off.
We’re talking about Lyle Parkway and U.S. 98.
From close calls to crashes, neighbor Steve Giglio has spent years asking for safety changes at the intersection.
“It's shocking," Giglio said. "When you see a motorcyclist that gets clipped, and flies over a vehicle, and lands about 20 feet away from the point of impact, that's a little startling."
Bartow Police told 10 Investigates its officers have responded to 36 crashes there since 2020. Of those, 12 crashes — one in three — involved left turns.
One person was killed in a left-turn crash there.
FDOT installed a directional in February, restricting drivers on Lyle Parkway from turning left onto U.S. 98.
“Since it was installed, we’ve had two crashes at this intersection,” said FDOT Dist. 1 Traffic Services Program Engineer Walter Breuggeman.
He said neither of those crashes involved left turns.
“I absolutely consider that a success,” Breuggeman said.
Giglio says not so fast.
“Ultimately, I think we still need a red light here,” Giglio said.
10 Investigates learned a stoplight is in the works but could be another two years away.
Breuggeman said the directional is meant to be a temporary solution.
He said FDOT is “currently designing” a traffic signal for the intersection, but it’s not funded for construction until Fiscal Year 2026.
“It takes time to design a traffic signal and get it planned,” Breuggeman said. “You have to do a lot of survey information, geotechnical information. You have to do a lot of data collection to ultimately be prepared to do the design and work around the utilities.”
The soonest a traffic signal could be installed at Lyle Parkway and U.S. 98 would be the fall of 2025.
“I think another two years is a long wait. I think, you know, if you have a chance to basically save an accident from happening or save a life, you do it,” Giglio said. “The sooner they can put this red light in the better.”