MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation made a promise years ago to install a traffic signal for a Marion County community, but the people living there say that project still hasn't been completed.

What You Need To Know

  • Allen Moss wants to know why it’s taking so long to install a traffic signal at State Road 200 and SW 80th Street in Marion County

  • FDOT studied the intersection in 2018 and determined a traffic light was needed, but department officials say they currently don't have funding for a design or construction

  • Temporary improvements have been made to make the intersection safer, FDOT said

Allen Moss said he’s tired of waiting for the traffic light to be installed at the intersection of State Road 200 and Southwest 80th Street.

“I think we were told that would happen in a year or so, and that’s about three years ago,” he said.

FDOT studied the intersection in 2018 and found a traffic signal is needed for safety reasons.

The department sent a letter to Moss and other residents in 2019, that said the traffic light would be delayed because of utility conflicts.

In the meantime, they installed delineators to prevent drivers on 80th Street from turning left onto State Road 200 to go north.

Instead, drivers have to make a right and then a U-turn.

But Moss said moving over three lanes in the short distance can be dangerous, especially when impatient drivers are behind him.

“I’m moving over carefully,” Moss said as he drove the area with Spectrum News. “And I’ve got a car that’s passing me that was right behind me. Rather than waiting for me to move over, they decide that they have to get there first.”

FDOT District 5 Public Information Director Cindi Lane said a lack of funding is the reason a traffic signal hasn’t been installed yet.

She said FDOT’s traffic operations team has pursued a new traffic signal, but there’s no money available for design or construction.

In the meantime, Lane said the temporary improvements have resulted in a positive safety trend.

“For the time being, drivers who do not wish to make a right turn at Southwest 80th Street and (a) U-turn at the next median opening can turn left on State Road 200 at the signalized intersections at Southwest 90th Street and Southwest 80th Avenue,” Lane said in a statement.

Fill out the form on the Traffic Inbox page to share your traffic concerns.