Road safety improvements coming to Somerton area
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Construction is set to get underway in Somerton in the coming weeks, all to improve safety on the roadways.
Rumble strips will be installed in an area where officials say there have been frequent accidents.
Distracted drivers on this roadway will no longer cross over without getting a major warning.
We can expect to see rumble strips between County 11 and 19, an area where officials say there have been frequent accidents.
The strips will be placed on the middle of the road and the sides to alert drivers when they are crossing over.
The strips cause vibration and loud noise once a car drives across them.
Yuma County Supervisor Martin Porchas is looking forward to the road improvements.
“This has been a while coming," said Porchas. "They’re big projects and basically to prevent more accidents.”
Fire engineer, Israel Carbajal of the Somerton-Cocopah Fire Department says they are in the area often responding to accidents ranging from fender-benders to fatalities and agree the strips are a good thing for the city.
“The rumble strips are a very good tool to keep drivers alert," said Carbajal. "If they’re tired or distracted, as soon as they start getting off the road, it will warn them."
Supervisor Porchas warns drivers to stay clear of construction workers while they are working on the roads.
“To all the drivers out there, be patient and drive slow," said Porchas.
Funding for the roadway improvements is coming from state and federal funds.
Supervisor Porchas noted this construction is not the last we will see saying traffic signals will soon be built on County 14th and Avenues C and G.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that 57% of traffic fatalities are caused by a driver crossing over the median lane making these rumble strips so important in our area.
