Changes coming to troubled intersection

Change is coming.

It won't be tomorrow, but even at the government's pace, Vaikunta "Murty" Gulivindala is happy to know someone is listening.

Last week, county officials visited Gulivindala at RMG Retail Inc., his corner store at U.S. 98 and Citrus Way. They were answering his calls for action following a fatal collision at the intersection in June.

Gulivindala described the 40-minute meeting with Commissioner Jim Adkins and County Engineer Charles Mixson as positive.

"They're willing to work with us," he said Tuesday.

The next step is to send traffic data on the intersection to the Florida Department of Transportation to see if a light is warranted. Records show there were 29 documented crashes from March 21, 2006, to April 29, 2009, one which was fatal. There were 32 injuries resulting from those crashes.

Adkins witnessed part of Gulivindala's complaint when he saw a tractor trailer truck ease out into another lane for a clearer view of oncoming traffic.

"It got me contemplating the situation out there," he said.

If a traffic light is approved for that intersection, it will still have to clear legal hurdles and be installed. Gulivindala was quoted a price of $500,000 to a million dollars, but Mixson could not be reached Tuesday to confirm this.

Until then, there are a few measures the department of public works plans to take. One will be eventually re-striping the X-shaped intersection to allow for better traffic flow.

An "adopt a road" sign will be relocated to allow for a clearer view. Two warning signs that "cross traffic does not stop" will be added on Citrus Way.

An action plan created after the meeting notes that a flashing yellow light has already been installed, along with a flashing "stop ahead" sign.

While the county puts in its paperwork, Gulivindala is preparing a petition for local and state officials. He's waiting for 20 more signatures to make it an even 300.

As for the upcoming improvements, "it's promising to see that," Gulivindala said.