Politics & Government

City Declares Left Turn Lane Unsafe

The left turn lane on Grand Avenue was constructed to improve access to the Valero gas station, but after city engineers declare the lane unsafe, the city spends $4,000 to reconstruct the median.

George Robinson’s sits on an unenviable section of a strip mall on Grand Avenue.

Although surrounded by stores and businesses, the gas station is virtually closed off at all corners except its front driveway. The property is sectioned off by parking dividers and the only easy access is available to northbound vehicles. For cars coming south, there is no legal left turn directly to the station, with the next legal left turn lane going into the store plaza.

Robinson has long been at odds with Glendora police officers who regularly station themselves across the street to nab drivers making illegal U-turns to get to the Valero gas station. It has been a situation that Robinson says has driven scores of potential customers away from his business.

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“It’s been very frustrating,” said Robinson. “I’m the only business here [in this plaza] completely boxed in.”

But it seemed for a short while, that Robinson would get some reprieve.

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As the city prepared for a massive , Robinson appealed to the city’s public works department for a legal left turn lane into his business, a request that was initially approved.

Work began immediately to create a left-turn lane into the Valero station in April, opening the concrete median to improve access to the station. But as soon as the project was completed, public works officials realized a very serious mistake.

Public works engineer Jerry Burke said staff reevaluated the median and saw that there was not enough stacking room for multiple cars waiting to make the left turn.

“So, I had our crews reconstruct the median as traffic safety is most important,” said Burke. Still, Burke said he realizes the mistake comes at a cost.

 “I am especially proud of my staff to bring this matter to my attention and regret approving it in the first place,” Burke said.

Work on the reconstructed median has since been completed.

But for Robinson, not only is he upset over his lost left turn lane, he wonders how much the botched project cost him and other city taxpayers.

“I pay $18,000 in property taxes alone,” said Robinson. “I’m self-employed, every penny that comes out of my paycheck counts. Whoever made this mistake, we the taxpayers are paying for it.”

According to Burke, $4,040 was spent to remove the median, then to reconstruct it.

It is a mistake, said Burke, that happens very rarely.

“In the future, we will make sure we follow our procedure, which is to review requests for changes to medians, signage or striping with current design standards before approving any,” Burke said.

Public works crews worked quickly to complete the project as the repaving project on Grand Avenue is expected to begin Thursday.

About 9,500 tons of asphalt will be poured on Grand Avenue at Baseline to Foothill.

The following week, Foothill Boulevard from Grand to Citrus will be repaved.

Public works asks that motorists consider alternative routes during this time.


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