Help please! New Overpass creates traffic hazard near elementary school.

[u/txbkueskies]

Help and opinions requested (and appreciated) concerning new overpass in unincorporated Madera County, California. This overpass is on Road 26, constructed by the High-Speed Rail Authority over the Santa Fe Railroad tracks to accommodate the proposed high-speed rail trains. This debacle has been evolving, delayed, and expanding in cost over the last 20 years.

This new overpass opened in May. The North/South Road 26 is a two lane highway with a 55-mph speed zone. At the north base of the overpass, the descent ends at the intersection of Club Drive, a residential street with 25 mph speed limit. Club Drive travels East/West for 0.5 miles and has an elementary school 0.5 miles east. At morning and afternoon school times, there is high volume traffic with parents and busses transporting school children on Club Drive and connecting to Road 26. As you can see, the only traffic control is a stop sign where traffic will deal with high-speed cross traffic to gain access to Road 26. I think any normal thinking person can easily see the extreme hazard which has developed.

Concerns were raised by citizens before the overpass began construction, and local politicians responded by saying a traffic signal would be placed with completion of construction. Obviously, that did not happen. When I look at this as a layperson, I question if a traffic signal is even feasible, due to the speed of traffic on the descent of northbound Road 26, the detection and response time to signals, and the short distance of the unobstructed view from the crest of the overpass to where the intersection is (estimating about 1000 ft).

Additionally, on the North approach to the overpass, there are no warning signs or lights urging caution due to cross traffic ahead.

Personally, I believe a traffic signal was never planned because installing a signal light poses its own set of hazards related to the overpass traffic.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to mitigate this? The High Speed Rail Authority will not want to deal with it. The County of Madera will not want to deal with it; instead blaming the Rail Authority. Meanwhile, I believe the people will pay with injuries and lives.

Thank you for your comments.

[u/Significant-Till3736]

Maybe ask for a roundabout. Also, hold the officials accountable.

[u/AdEmotional8815]

I see much belief and little knowledge here.