Worst Traffic Lights In Abilene – Jones’ Top 5

Abilene has its share of notorious intersections, and at some of them, the traffic lights share the blame. My top five infamous stop lights are all on the south side of Abilene, because it's overall more congested and has a higher traffic count. I've even got a a 'dishonorable mention' after the list!  I'm sure you have your candidates too.  What are some other bad traffic lights in town?

5. Buffalo Gap Road At The Winters Freeway

This one is an obvious choice for several reasons.  It has an extremely high traffic count, and there is no good direction to approach it from.  If you're approaching from Industrial Boulevard, traffic backs up all the way down Industrial at peak times as cars wait to turn left onto Buffalo Gap Road towards the Mall Of Abilene.  If you're on Buffalo Gap Road, you have to be wary of traffic from about six different directions.  Approaching from the South, traffic merges into two left turn lanes, or into a 'right turn only' land to get on Industrial.  It's a busy intersection any time of day.

4.  Buffalo Gap Road at South 27th

This intersection has a problem specifically related to the traffic light.  If you're approaching the intersection as you come down Buffalo Gap Road heading north, the left turn onto 27th is sometimes infuriating.  This left turn arrow stays  green barely long enough for two vehicles to turn left.  If the lead vehicle is not paying attention (which is about 1 in 2 times), you can wait three light changes with only three vehicles in front of you.  It's inexplicable why such a busy intersection has a left turn signal that last literally about ten seconds!

3.  South First At Leggett

I'm not sure why this intersection is so difficult for folks to navigate, but I've personally seen more accidents here than anywhere else.  Of course, part of the reason for that it that this intersection is smack dab in front of the radio station!  It's the left turn lanes that seem to flummox people.  I've seen no less than a dozen fender benders and a few serious collisions here.  The left turn signal seems to be ignored in one direction or another for one thing.  Possibly the major issue however is traffic crossing the railroad tracks to and from North First.  The tracks are elevated well above line of sight if you're waiting to cross the tracks, whether in the turn lanes, or to proceed directly across.  As a result, cars will attempt a left turn onto South First from Legett, and sometimes get smacked hard by a driver crossing the tracks at a high speed from North First.

2.  Ridgemont at Rebecca

This one is a lot of fun due to some poor driving and the fact that there are three lanes coming off Ridgemont to navigate onto Rebecca.  Two of these lanes are 'left turn only' to approach Buffalo Gap Road.  The other lane is a 'right turn only' to head north down Rebecca to various destinations including Wal Mart and Dyess Air Force Base.  About a third of the time, ALL  THREE LANES will try to turn LEFT onto Rebecca from Ridgemont!  Or the person in the left lane will swing out right into the center left turn lane.  I've been in so many 'near misses' here I can't count them all.  There IS a sign about 60-75 feet before the intersection showing three arrows -two turning left- and one turning right.  But there is NO such sign at the intersection itself facing traffic.  Note the generic yellow double arrow sign which seems to indicate 'go either direction you want out of any lane'.   The city desperately needs to place a sign on the opposite side of Rebecca Lane facing traffic approaching on Ridgemont like the one posted BEFORE the intersection itself.  This one!------>

1.  South First At The Winters Freeway

This intersection has a distraction and a frequent traffic light malfunction.  If you're approaching the Winters Freeway heading west on South First, towards Dyess, the left turn onto the Winters Freeway south is sometimes infuriating.  There is always a homeless individual standing in the narrow grass/gravel median right next to the traffic light.  I'm definitely not disparaging these people.  In fact, they bear witness to Abilenians' generosity and compassion any time you're waiting for this light to change.  Inevitably people will make a donation to the individual standing at the intersection.  This sometimes creates a dangerous situation for the homeless person, and the traffic waiting at the light.  It delays cars from making the left turn and causes traffic to back up down South First to the east.  In addition, this left turn light is controlled by sensors in the roadway.  The sensors at this particular intersection malfunction a LOT.  I've seen traffic back up on South First the full length of the Big K-Mart, blocking cross traffic on two thoroughfares intersecting from the South.  This one can just make you mad on some days!

DISHONORABLE MENTION - SOUTH 27TH AT CATCLAW

This intersection is worse if you're trying to get onto Catclaw from South 27th, no matter which direction you're traveling.  It's extremely congested due to traffic trying to get to the Walmart just off this corner, and by traffic heading for any of the Shops At Abilene strip center on Catclaw.  The left turn lanes back up considerably in  both directions, and there are driveways leading to businesses very near the traffic light both ways.  It's treacherous during daytime business hours and on weekends.  Wet weather or icy roads obviously make any of the above intersections a nightmare.  You can grab a 5-day forecast with detailed radar right here on the site at TrueOldiesAbilene.com/abilene-weather Also, if you notice a traffic light that is malfunctioning or completely out, there's a quick link to contact the city of Abilene online, and this site provides phone numers too.   Good to know. AbileneTx.com/StreetLighting What lights am I missing?  What are some other 'worst' traffic lights in Abilene?