MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Turning left from southbound SW 80th Avenue to eastbound SW 80th Street in Marion County is difficult, driver Joyce McElrath said.

What You Need To Know

  • Joyce McElrath says it’s difficult to turn from southbound SW 80th Avenue to eastbound SW 80th Street

  • McElrath wants a left-turn arrow installed

  • Marion County plans to widen SW 80th Avenue

  • As part of the project, the need for a left-turn signal will be studied, a county spokesperson said

“That light is not long enough to give us the opportunity (to turn),” she said.

McElrath waits a long time for cross traffic to clear.

“Now I’m going to sit here and hope I can get through,” she said.

McElrath and other drivers will wait in the middle of the intersection, hoping to get clearance to turn before the light turns red, she revealed.

“Some of these people act like they speed up when they see you sitting in the median strip,” McElrath said. “It seems like they’re coming faster at you, so if you don’t scoot across, they’re going to try for you."

What’s frustrating is drivers in the other directions at the intersection all have a dedicated left-turn arrow, she said.

She wants her turn to have an arrow as well.

The county plans to widen Southwest 80th Avenue from two to four lanes, a Marion County spokesperson said.

As a part of the project, the signals will be studied, including the need for a southbound left-turn signal.

For now, the county recommends drivers like McElrath not wait in the intersection for a break in traffic to turn. In fact, if the light turns red, drivers could get a ticket.

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