Looking at the chart above, you can see that Grissom Road goes along the top of the picture. I live on the north side of Grissom and Timber Path (before it closed) makes a short cut through a dry creek bed and comes out at Culebra Road. Forming sort of a triangle with Grissom and Timber Path is Old Grissom Road.Here is the problem. Sitting at the light this morning at Timber Path and Grissom for five minutes made me realize that someone has not done their job. It also made me realize that people need to learn to safely run red lights when common sense tells you that there is a glitch in the system.
Example: If you are in a line of cars waiting for five minutes for a protected arrow to allow you to get onto a road and there is no other traffic coming in either direction on that road, why not live bold and run the light. Oh, I know, the first time I try this, there will be six cops and a SWAT team waiting for me, but really, can't the city or TxDOT workers just fix the stupid lights to reflect the changes in the road that is closed?
Other than that, the new route worked fine. Then, I had to come home, so I figured I would use the reverse of that route, exiting from Culebra Road to Timber Path, then onto Old Grissom and so forth.
Hmmm. Looks like they completely blocked off the part of Timber Path that keeps you from having to make a sharp right turn. No problem.
Unless of course, they have failed to cover or otherwise alter the stop lights at the intersection of the closed road. Seriously; Timber Path is closed in both directions. There is no competing traffic from either direction, so why are cars backed up out onto Celebra creating a log-jam? And further, why doesn't the guy simply, cautiously, run the red light. That is actually legal, by the way.Okay, other than to update you on the status of the construction, I won't bring it up any more.
I had noticed the blocking to keep you from veering right onto Timber Path, but hadn't even thought about the traffic light that wasn't needed any more. They ought to just cover it up for now with black plastic or something.
ReplyDeleteI just sent email message, with link to your blog, to District 6 City Council Staff, plus the San Antonio City Mayor. Let's see what happens. Perhaps some phone call complaints to 311 would help?
ReplyDeleteSpoke with Andrew Solano at District 6 City Council Office about an hour ago. He's working with the city's traffic engineers to get a rapid resolution to this traffic signal snafu and will call or send me an email when something has been resolved.
ReplyDeleteOkay, got a response. Supposedly the signal has been "neutered", I mean "adjusted" to allow flow thru traffic. I'll take a spin over there in a bit to use my Mark II eyeball scope to check it out.
ReplyDeleteHere is a copy of the email I received just now....
Thank you for contacting the City regarding your traffic concerns on
Timber Path. The project you have referenced below is a Bexar County
project that falls in TxDOT right-of-way. I have been in contact with Bexar County and they have informed me that the traffic signal at Old Grissom and Timber Path was adjusted this morning to allow traffic to flow through the intersection. As this is a Bexar County project, should you have any additional questions please feel free to contact Jim Brannan at 335-6711 or by e-mail at jbrannan@bexar.org. Again, thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.
Alyssa Munoz Lopez
Executive Assistant
Department of Public Works
(210) 207-5862
Went through there earlier this afternoon and the light simply wasnt working, some men were up doing work, so maybe they are just eliminating the light to solve the problem, which makes all the sense as there is no way for traffic to go there now but straight anyway.
ReplyDeleteYep - I drove through this afternoon and sure enough - the lights at Old Grissom and what was Timber Path are gone!
ReplyDeleteYou guys rock!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Good Job!!!
ReplyDeleteTimber Path is closed indefinitely, and the traffic on old Grissom from Culebra to Grissom is backing up because of those who want to turn left on to Grissom. This could use a light, but that would be costly wouldn't it. Hope no one gets hurt trying to dodge the Grissom traffic. Be safe.