Heads up, Surprise drivers: A major traffic signal change is rolling out at the intersection of Bell and Litchfield roads, aiming to alleviate your daily grind. Starting the week of January 12, the City of Surprise will implement a new signal operation to improve the flow of traffic based on the findings from their recent study on the issue. During peak hours, if you're making that tricky left turn off Bell Road onto Litchfield Road, you'll get not one, but two chances at a protected green arrow per signal cycle.
According to the City of Surprise announcement, the congestion during peak hours has been a consistent headache for motorists. Easing this tension, the dual-left turn strategy, also known as double-service phasing, will activate twice throughout the weekday rush from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and during the weekend hustle from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. With the promise of reducing queues and providing operational benefits, this tactical tweak might just be the reprieve weary drivers have been pining for. And for the night owls and early birds, a new flashing yellow arrow system will keep things moving during off-peak hours.
Don't worry about the rest of your maneuvers at this crossroads. The study indicates through and right-turn movements will stick to their current cadence. And while change can be jarring, the City is taking steps to cushion the transition by deploying road signs and launching a public service campaign just to remind folks to yield on those flashing yellow signals. It's an education push to ensure everyone's on the same page and hopefully, on the move faster.
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