Wasteful Gov't, Local Spending?

[Smiling JOe]

Today, I am stopped at the traffic light in South Walton, on Hwy 98, at the intersection of W. Hewitt, near the Donut Hole. I happen to notice a 40ft long post with two working traffic signals for the north bound lanes. Only problem is that there is no road, coming from the south. It was my understanding that one of those traffic lights with the metal poles, cost around $100,000 a few years ago, because they are custom made. My question is, how much did the extra, not needed, arm with signals costs? Talk about wasteful spending, this is a great example. I hear people talk about the ghost power theives -- eg- the clock on your microwave. Surely these two working traffic signals pulls a bit of extra power, for no reason at all. WTF?

 

[John R]

more of that to come with the economic stimulus on the way.

 

[GoodWitch58]

This has been driving me crazy too! and my efforts to discuss it with the appropriate county officials have fallen on deaf ears....

there (above) is this situation at Hewitt, and just up the road at the intersection of 98 and Sugar drive, they refuse to put a working light--and yesterday there was another horrible accident there!

Not only is it wasteful, it is inefficient and perhaps incompetent!

 

[Smiling JOe]

If I correctly recall, they installed this light at W Hewitt/98, before we got one at 395/98. Something just isn't right. I looked up the owners of the properties directly to the south of this light at W Hewitt, and the State even paved an entrance to the properites, which are two, privately owned parcels, though neither have been developed. That dog don't hunt in my book.

 

[GoodWitch58]

yes you are right they did. When I asked why they had installed a traffic light where there was no road; and not installed traffic lights at Sugar Drive, 283, and 395...

they said the traffic light at Hewitt had been intended for the entrance to the hospital; when they realized it was placed in the wrong place, then, it was cheaper to leave it, than to move it!

Figure out the logic in that one!

This was all before we got a community group together to get the lights installed at 283 and 395!

 

[scooterbug44]

they said the traffic light at Hewitt had been intended for the entrace to the hospital; when they realized it was placed in the wrong place, then, it was cheaper to leave it, than to move it!

If this is true, these people are WAY too stupid to be working w/ heavy machinery and electricity!!!

 

[GoodWitch58]

a few of the ones I spoke to have trouble finding their way around South Walton.

In fact, the Operational Engineer for the Fl Dept of Transportation who oversees this area, admitted to me that he had never been to the intersection of Highway 98 and U. S. 331 and was not sure how to get from his office in Crestview to that spot when I had asked if he would meet me to discuss the need for the traffic lights at 283 and 395!

Yet, he is the person who signs off on all operational issues for the District!

It is a disgrace IMO.

 

[John R]

This was all before we got a community group together to get the lights installed at 283 and 395!

re the north/south lights at 395. Who in the world approved the lights for southbound be on the north arm and northbound to be on the south arm, where when one pulls up to the plane of the white line, one is basically under the light. why not across the intersection?

 

[GoodWitch58]

re the north/south lights at 395. Who in the world approved the lights for southbound be on the north arm and northbound to be on the south arm, where when one pulls up to the plane of the white line, one is basically under the light. why not across the intersection?

The same person and the contractors who work for him as stated above!

And when asked about that, the reply is that "the intersection was not designed properly, so the lights could not be installed properly" and who designed the intersection? Yes, the same person and his contractors.....

 

[Matt J]

If you've noticed 30A and 98 on the West end has this same odd affliction, however I have seen people utilize that signal. They shouldn't be driving, but at least someone is using it.