Tyler Traffic Lights Flash Red As Safety Upgrades Are Installed

Tyler traffic woes continue this week as contractors begin working on traffic signals throughout the city.

If you've driven through the S. Broadway and Robert E. Lee intersection or Grande and Old Noonday or Gentry Pkwy/Hwy 271 and Hillsboro or Gentry Pkwy/Hwy 271 and MLK, Jr. Blvd intersections you might have noticed something a bit different about the traffic lights at these intersections, they're outfitted with a yellow reflective border.

Soon more than 100 of the signalized intersections in Tyler will have this yellow refelective backplate installed on its traffic lights.

In January 2023 the Tyler City Council approved a measure to have the traffic lights upgraded in the city. Tyler Traffic Engineer Cameron Williams said, "Adding the retroreflective border of the backplates enhances the visibility of the traffic signal even more. The yellow retroreflective strip can alert drivers to the intersection locations during power outages when the signals are dark, which is when the non-reflective signal heads and backplates are not visible."

Enhanced traffic lights with retroreflective borders have also been found to reduce crashes and collisions by 15%. While the borders are being installed, more than 3700 LED lights will be installed and replace the lights that are currently being used. The entire project is being funded by the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program and TXDOT, 90% and 10% respectively.

While the work gets underway on Monday, July 14th, the following intersections will be affected over the next few weeks and drivers may encounter a flashing red intersection.

US 271 at State Highway 155
US 271 at East Northeast Loop 323
US 271 at State Highway 147 (Gentry Parkway)
US 271 (Beckham Avenue) at East Line Street
US 271 (Beckham Avenue) at East Erwin Street
US 271 (Beckham Avenue) at State Highway 31 (Front Street)
State Highway 155 (Beckham Avenue) at East Houston Street
State Highway 155 (Beckham Avenue) at East Dawson Street
State Highway 155 (Beckham Avenue) at Hospital Drive/Olympic Plaza Circle
State Highway 155 (Beckham Avenue) at East Lake Street
State Highway 155/SH110 (Beckham Avenue) at State Highway 64 (East 5th Street)
State Highway 110 (Beckham Avenue) at Fleishel Avenue
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at Dulse Street
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at Golden Road
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at State Loop 323
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at Thistle Drive
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at Lindbergh Street
State Highway 110 (Troup Highway) at FM 2964 (Shiloh Road/Rhones Quarter Road)

This is just the beginning of the project that is expected to last several weeks throughout the city of Tyler.

Watch Out, Wrecks At These Tyler Intersections Make Them Dangerous

Tyler drivers are not immune to traffic accidents. In 2023, the Tyler Police Department received more than 5000 calls about accidents and 1100+ were defined as major accidents.

Here's a look at some of the intersections and streets that had the most reported accidents in 2023 in no particular order.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry, Mix 93-1

Stay Away From Tyler's 15 Most Accident Prone Intersections and Streets

While vehicle accidents can occur wherever we drive, there are certain areas in Tyler that seem to have a higher number of traffic accidents than others. The following is a gallery of 15 Tyler intersections that had the most accidents in 2021 according to Tyler Police Department data.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry

WATCH OUT: These 15 Longview Intersections Are Accident Prone

Longview drivers are not invincible when it comes to traffic accidents, these Longview intersections saw the most accidents in 2023 according to a report from the Longview Police Department.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry, Mix 93-1

These 10 Longview Intersections Had The Most Accidents In 2021

Longview drivers are not invincible when it comes to traffic accidents, these Longview intersections saw the most accidents in 2021 according to a report from the Longview Police Department.

Gallery Credit: Lucky Larry, Mix 93-1

Filed Under: city of tyler, traffic lights, traffic signals, txdot, Tyler

Categories: East Texas News