Dear Woofies: Are you aware that speed-limit signage is missing on Interstate 4 westbound between Central Florida Parkway and Osceola Parkway? The speed limit defaults to 55 mph because there are no signs.
Don Gworek
Orlando
Dear Don: Hold on. Before we get to what we’re aware of or not aware of, let’s talk about you.
Are you aware that you called us, “Dear Woofies?” Are you aware that you used the word signage — with no apparent sarcasm?
Judging from that, we guess you’re part of the traffic wonk world, because, let’s face it, regular humans don’t talk that way.
That said, we’re using your question because we’re inclusive — we have a big tent. We help drivers of all creeds, colors and backgrounds — with the exception of professional “meeting facilitators.” After all, they’re evil.
Almost as evil as I-4 (now that’s a professional-quality segue), a road we’re happy to trash. Heading west from around downtown, the posted speed is 55 mph. Then westbound traffic hits a speed-sign dead zone.
From Central Florida Parkway — near SeaWorld — to Osceola Parkway, there are no speed-limit signs. It’s odd, because across the median, eastbound traffic gets a couple of signs telling them the speed limit through that stretch is 65 mph.
Fortunately, the Florida Department of Transportation sees things your way. The westbound stretch of I-4 should be marked as 65 mph, and the state has promised to send a crew out to correct the oversight.
Dear Road Dog: It’s impossible to pull onto State Road 50 from Remington Road in west Orange County. What’s taking the town of Oakland so long to install a light?
Marie Wilson
Oakland
Dear Marie: Technically, adding a light would be up to the state. It has jurisdiction over S.R. 50. The town or county would maintain it. That wouldn’t be a bad idea. Here’s why:
Remington leads back to a couple of subdivisions and serves as the only outlet to S.R. 50. When those communities are built out and a new gas station on the corner is complete, there will be plenty of cars on Remington trying to pull onto the highway.
And already, that’s no picnic.
We were surprised by how long some drivers had to wait for a break in S.R. 50 traffic. Twice we saw drivers — both in pickups — do the pull-out stutter step after misjudging the time they had to move.
We wouldn’t think this intersection generates enough traffic to persuade FDOT to install a light — the engineering types can be pretty rigid — but, it turns out, one is planned. Be patient, though. Designing and installing one could take a year.
Dog Spots: To Angel in Sanford: No, no, a thousand times no, you may not make a U-turn on a red left-turn arrow — or even on a red circle. You can go right on red after stopping, provided no sign prohibits it; and you can turn left on red if you’re turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street. But that’s it.