JACKSON OFFICIALS HOPE TO GET YIELD SIGNS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS

JACKSON -- When traffic signals were installed this month at the intersection of East Jackson Boulevard, Donna Drive and the Wal Mart parking lot in Jackson, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department apparently overlooked placing left-turn-yield-on-green signs on Donna Drive and the parking lot exit.

That's the belief of Jackson Alderman Paul Sander and other city officials who want the department to install the signs near the signal lights on the parking lot and Donna Drive.

Sander raised the subject of the yield signs during Monday's special session of the Jackson Board of Aldermen.

Sander said he was making a left turn off Donna Drive to go east on East Jackson Boulevard when a motorist on the Wal Mart parking lot crossed East Jackson to go north on Donna.

Sander said he suddenly realized he must yield to the oncoming vehicle. "But there was no sign on either Donna or the Wal Mart parking lot to warn those making left turns to yield to oncoming traffic," Sander said.

"They do have left-turn-yield-on-green signs on East Jackson for vehicles making left turns into the parking lot or onto Donna Drive, and there are left-turn-yield-on-green signs on Shawnee Boulevard at the East Jackson traffic lights," he said. "I think it's just an oversight on the part of the highway department; they just forgot to put them up at the East Jackson and Donna intersection when the traffic signals were installed."

Sander asked City Administrator Carl Talley to check with the highway department in Sikeston about installing the yield signs as soon as possible.

Although there have been no accidents associated with the new traffic signals or lack of left-turn-yield signs at the Donna-East Jackson intersection, assistant police chief, Capt. Robert Hull, agreed the yield signs would help remind motorists making left turns that they must yield to oncoming traffic.

Hull said many motorists forget or become confused because most traffic signals now have left-turn-on-green-arrow signals. However, the East Jackson-Donna Drive signals do not have such indicators. When the signal turns green, cars wanting to make left turns onto East Jackson are required to wait for vehicles crossing East Jackson.

Until the yield signs are up, Hull urged motorists turning off Donna Drive or the Wal Mart parking lot onto East Jackson to remember to yield to the oncoming traffic, as required by state law.