First-ever traffic signal

Yesterday we announced, formally, the activation of new traffic signals on state Highway 16 in Tilden.

Not until Tim Delaney, editor of The Progress in Three Rivers, pointed out these are the first full-blown signals in McMullen County did the significance of the announcement really sink in. With this in mind, we took a drive to Tilden to see these new signals first-hand and celebrate the hard work by the TxDOT crews who built them.

Prior to these two signals, flashing traffic beacons were used to caution traffic of the intersections. TxDOT does not consider these flashing beacons to be traffic-controlling signals.


This signal, at the corner of SH 16 and SH72S in Tilden, was activated last week and features the first electronic pedestrian signals in the county.


Since 2008, just five crashes have been recorded at the south intersection, or the intersection at "downtown" Tilden. Only a few more have occurred at the north intersection - host to the area's local "truck stop". None of those crashes have been fatal.

This low number of crashes is to expected when the county population of just 700 is considered. However, this project was still motivated by safety.



This SH 16-SH 72N signal, viewed from the McMullen County Community Center, was activated late 2012 - and is the first full traffic signal in McMullen County

The fact is most of the traffic at these intersections - more than half, if the half-hour of personal observation earlier today is any indication - is truck traffic related to the Eagle Ford Shale boom. While crash counts are already low, we want to keep things that way.

Call it an appropriate desire to maintain the status quo.

And that's why this one-horse town was elevated to an official stop on the map. That's why Tilden is home to McMullen County's very first full traffic signals - to continue a record of safety that may very well be unmatched by any other county seat in the great state of Texas.

New traffic signal active in Tilden

TILDEN, Texas — Last week the Texas Department of Transportation activated an upgraded traffic signal at the intersection of state Highway 16 and state Highway 72 in Tilden, replacing flashing beacons with complete traffic signals.

The $131,371 upgrade includes mast arm-mounted signals controlled by radar that will regulate traffic flow – including traffic in the left-turn lanes. Pedestrian signals have been built to help safe crossing of the roadway. TxDOT will maintain the signal.

“These new traffic signals will greatly enhance the safety of this downtown area,” TxDOT spokesman Josh Donat said. “This intersection is the hub of activity in Tilden, and we want to ensure everyone traveling here – by vehicle or on foot – can do so safely and comfortably. We think this intersection will do just that.”

The signals were activated Thursday, Jan. 24, after a week of the change being posted at the intersection itself. In October the intersection of SH 16 and SH 72 West – located a little more than a half-mile north of the downtown Tilden intersection – was also upgraded to a full signal. That upgrade cost $113,949.