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Boca Raton truck driver doubts more road signs will prevent truck crashes at Congress Avenue

Posted at 11:48 PM, Apr 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-18 04:25:47-04

Road work began Monday night to add more signs on the Congress Avenue off ramp in Boca Raton, with hopes they will help drivers navigate the road way more easily.

RELATED: Photos - Semi hangs from overpass | Tow truck driver dies | Crash on Congress Ave. 

Crews with the Florida Department of Transportation began work to add more signs to show drivers they can only turn right at the end of the ramp, and that they have to stop for a light at the end.

They are also removing straight arrows painted on the roadway, in between right turn arrows, which FDOT admits may be confusing to some drivers.

This work was expedited after a truck crash this month at the end of the off ramp, which also led to the death of a tow truck driver responding to the crash who fell off the overpass.

FDOT says there have been three tractor trailer crashes on that exit in the last year.

“The design of that interchange is unlike any other in Palm Beach County,” said Chuck McGinness with the Florida Department of Transportation.

While FDOT admits the roadway may be confusing to some drivers, truck drivers like Myron Daniels believes more signs is not the answer to a safer roadway.

“Any new signs will not make a difference because there’s already plenty of signage as it is,” Daniels said. “You can have 1000 signs and if you’re not paying attention, you’re still going to do the same thing.”

On the off-ramp, already, there are signs warning drivers they can only take a right turn, that they must stop at a red light and that they are getting off on an exit.

In a truck crash last summer, the driver told investigators he thought the roadway was an expressway.

In a truck crash nearly a month ago, the driver was cited for careless driving.

Most recently, the truck driver was cited for driving too many hours.

Daniels does not believe more signs would have made a difference. “Waste of money. Waste of Money,” Daniels said.

Still, FDOT is hoping to eliminate any possible confusion, to drop the risk for any future truck crashes at the overpass.