New Medians, Lights, And Signals Coming To Troup Hwy.

(Tyler, Texas) It's not just Tyler drivers, but Longview drivers too - they don't have a fondness for medians.

Why Tyler Drivers Dislike Medians

Many wish the medians would go away so they can get to where they're going faster without having to go farther down the road and make that u-turn.

Traffic on Old Jacksonville Hwy and Troup Hwy in Tyler can be brutal, and without medians, it is dangerous. Some drivers treat the left turn lane as their personal acceleration lane to the traffic light that's a half a mile away, not caring that another driver is turning left or wanting to cross and get into traffic from a business.

Trying to cross two or three lanes of traffic to turn left from a business is very intimidating to some East Texas drivers because those other drivers see the world as it's all about them.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has conducted studies that prove installing medians on high-traffic roadways reduces the number of traffic accidents and deaths.

Now, another major stretch of roadway in Tyler will soon have its medians extended beyond the city limits.

Safety Upgrades Are Coming To Texas State Hwy 110

The City of Tyler and TxDOT will soon be taking action to support the long-term safety solutions that have been proposed for a busy stretch of Texas State Hwy 110 (Troup Hwy).

What’s Included in the Roadway Redesign

TxDOT will begin designing improvements that may include:

• a raised median
• access management controls
• roadway lighting
• upgraded traffic signals

The enhancements are aimed at reducing crash rates, improving mobility, and providing safer access for all drivers and pedestrians who use the corridor.

On Wednesday, June 11, the City Council approved a resolution to collaborate with TxDOT on the design of a safety project on SH 110 from just north of Aberdeen Drive, within the city limits, to County Road 2123, outside the city.

Crash Stats Behind the Project

More than 700 crashes occurred along this corridor between 2015 and 2024. Of those, 16 percent resulted in severe injuries or fatalities. (City of Tyler)

The City of Tyler will partner in the design process, ensuring that community needs are reflected in the final plans. TxDOT will fully fund all design and construction costs, and the City will not be required to contribute financially to the project.

Construction dates for this project are still a few years away. However, knowing these safety improvements are coming should bring comfort to those who use this stretch of busy road.

What This Means for East Texas Drivers

In the meantime, East Texas drivers need to be a bit more courteous and aware of other drivers around them.