Life-Saving Change Coming to Loop 335 and Arden in Amarillo

It's been one of the scariest and most dangerous intersections in Amarillo. The worst part? It's the intersection that leads to a high school, where new drivers and walking kids are constantly.

Loop 335 and Arden is home to the intersection that leads to West Plains High School, and it's already produced a ton of accidents, serious injuries, and yes, even fatalities. One of those fatalities came recently.

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Why Isn't There A Light There

The biggest reason was that TxDOT had initially determined that the intersection didn't fit the criteria needed for a stoplight. After the most recent fatality, TxDOT mentioned they had done studies on the intersection and didn't see the need for a light.

Well, good news. It seems they've had a bit of a change of heart, and while it's not a traditional stoplight, it's something, and it should help.

Read More: Construction Underway On Loop 335 And Arden In Amarillo

What Type Of Light Is Going In SL 335 & Arden Rd

It's called an RRFB, and they will be installed at the intersection to alert drivers that they need to stop when the light is activated. The light is activated just like a crosswalk, where a pedestrian will push a button.

It'll begin to flash yellow and that requires the drivers to come to a complete stop until the pedestrian has cleared their side of the crosswalk.

Aren't There Already School Lights There

Yes, they do have the speed limit signs there for school hours. Those are the ones where your speed limit is different when they're flashing. However, those lights don't require a driver to stop if they see pedestrians nearby.

Those lights help with the driver being able to stop quicker, but it doesn't solve the problem. These RRFBs will help much more than those because they act as a stoplight when pedestrians are near. They are expected to be installed and functional before the school year begins.