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City helps citizen with "drive-in" problem: ADOT refuses to place signage at Magic Circle RV Park entrance despite drivers' confusion over 340 freeway on-ramp
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
A Willcox business owner has found himself directing traffic during construction of the Exit 340 overpass.
John Staebell told the Willcox City Council that due to lack of signage, confused semi-truck drivers have been driving into Magic Circle RV Park on Virginia Avenue in search of the westbound Interstate 10 exit.
"We get significant traffic looking for the freeway," Staebell said during call to the public at the council's Dec. 18 meeting.
"When cars come down, that's not a crisis," he said. "When 18-wheelers come down --now that's a crisis. I've had a lot of damage from 18-wheelers turning around on my property."
Staebell told the council he has posted his own signs at the RV park, but wants the city "to post signs or do something to help 18-wheelers and travelers to find the freeway. I know there is a solution."
He told the Range News that the situation began after the Virginia Parkway was re-opened.
Asked if the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) could help Staebell with additional signage, spokeswoman Kimberly Cummings said it is not considered an ADOT issue.
Instead, ADOT's proposed scenario, based on information from its contractors, is that the Exit 340 Truck Wash, also on Virginia Avenue, was closed for a couple of months and didn't put up a closed sign visible from the freeway. So truckers would go there, find out the wash was closed, and then have to turn around without much space available.
"I'm right next door to the truck wash, and it was never closed for a couple of months," Staebell said Friday. "Trucks have come down here when the truck wash is closed - as in no lights on. That's just bogus. And it's not just truckers. It's everybody. It's the traveling public. It's people who are going to T.A. to go to Subway and then can't get back on the freeway because there are no signs to tell them how."
Cummings, with Kaneen Advertising & Public Relations, Inc., said that ADOT has put up more signage near the exit ramp, and "that's as far as their duties go."
She suggested that Staebell put up his own signs at the RV park.
There used to be a diamond-shaped "No Outlet" sign at Virginia Avenue, placed there years ago "courtesy of Frank Gonzales," said Staebell, adding that "they ripped that sign down when they put up the construction yard."
Staebell said that Ryan Benavides, director of public works and services works, and Chief of Police Jake Weaver have met with him recently, as well as City Manager Mike Leighton.
Leighton told the Range News that he had "a good meeting with John" and ordered signs for Virginia Avenue earlier this month.
"There is a problem with trucks going in there," said Leighton, who witnessed an incident himself. "They think they're turning onto the ramp of the freeway. It's a situation that's difficult to fix entirely, but I'm hoping we can get some signs out there to help alleviate his problem."
Staebell said the city told him signs would be placed "close to the Super 8 (Motel) and just beyond my property line."
John Staebell told the Willcox City Council that due to lack of signage, confused semi-truck drivers have been driving into Magic Circle RV Park on Virginia Avenue in search of the westbound Interstate 10 exit.
"We get significant traffic looking for the freeway," Staebell said during call to the public at the council's Dec. 18 meeting.
"When cars come down, that's not a crisis," he said. "When 18-wheelers come down --now that's a crisis. I've had a lot of damage from 18-wheelers turning around on my property."
Staebell told the council he has posted his own signs at the RV park, but wants the city "to post signs or do something to help 18-wheelers and travelers to find the freeway. I know there is a solution."
He told the Range News that the situation began after the Virginia Parkway was re-opened.
Asked if the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) could help Staebell with additional signage, spokeswoman Kimberly Cummings said it is not considered an ADOT issue.
Instead, ADOT's proposed scenario, based on information from its contractors, is that the Exit 340 Truck Wash, also on Virginia Avenue, was closed for a couple of months and didn't put up a closed sign visible from the freeway. So truckers would go there, find out the wash was closed, and then have to turn around without much space available.
"I'm right next door to the truck wash, and it was never closed for a couple of months," Staebell said Friday. "Trucks have come down here when the truck wash is closed - as in no lights on. That's just bogus. And it's not just truckers. It's everybody. It's the traveling public. It's people who are going to T.A. to go to Subway and then can't get back on the freeway because there are no signs to tell them how."
Cummings, with Kaneen Advertising & Public Relations, Inc., said that ADOT has put up more signage near the exit ramp, and "that's as far as their duties go."
She suggested that Staebell put up his own signs at the RV park.
There used to be a diamond-shaped "No Outlet" sign at Virginia Avenue, placed there years ago "courtesy of Frank Gonzales," said Staebell, adding that "they ripped that sign down when they put up the construction yard."
Staebell said that Ryan Benavides, director of public works and services works, and Chief of Police Jake Weaver have met with him recently, as well as City Manager Mike Leighton.
Leighton told the Range News that he had "a good meeting with John" and ordered signs for Virginia Avenue earlier this month.
"There is a problem with trucks going in there," said Leighton, who witnessed an incident himself. "They think they're turning onto the ramp of the freeway. It's a situation that's difficult to fix entirely, but I'm hoping we can get some signs out there to help alleviate his problem."
Staebell said the city told him signs would be placed "close to the Super 8 (Motel) and just beyond my property line."
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