Install traffic light at dangerous intersection

By Narciso Villarreal

Death. We are informed about it every day whether it’s by watching the news, reading about it on the Internet or in the newspaper, or hearing about it from a friend.

A dangerous intersection on the south side of the city just awaits a future victim. It is the intersection of South Calle Santa Cruz and West Drexel Road. Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus is on the southeast corner of the intersection.

This intersection is especially dangerous for drivers trying to make a left turn from Drexel Road to go south on Calle Santa Cruz.

I have gotten stuck trying to make this left turn on a few occasions. I have had to take risks when turning because southbound and northbound traffic on Calle Santa Cruz just kept on coming.

Drivers trying to turn east onto Drexel Road from Calle Santa Cruz also make the intersection dangerous for drivers traveling south from Drexel Road.

Maybe it’s just me, but my parents agree that something needs to be done at the location. My best friend disagrees and says nothing needs to change.

It seems simple to me, though. The city should install a traffic light or stop signs at the intersection to avoid a serious vehicle accident or a fatality.

But I’m afraid the city will do nothing until a fatality does occur. Maybe two or more. It’s ridiculous that drivers’ lives have to be put on the line just because the city won’t spend a small amount of money to make the intersection safe.

Pima Community College should also step in to ensure that students headed to its Desert Vista Campus from Drexel Road are safe by building an entrance on the north side of campus. This would let students avoid the intersection altogether.

However, a traffic light or stop signs at the Drexel-Santa Cruz intersection would still be necessary to make it safe for other drivers headed elsewhere.

We shouldn’t have to pay a big price because the city didn’t pay a small price first.