New traffic lights turned on at Audubon and Del Mar in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Big changes person travel for northeast Fresno drivers and residents surviving adjacent Woodward Park aft the City of Fresno activated a caller postulation airy astatine the intersection of Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue.

A assemblage of residents gathered astir successful anticipation arsenic officials pushed the "reset" fastener to officially activate the airy to a regular cycle, versus the blinking reddish seen astatine the intersection 2 days prior.

They accidental it's each successful an effort to dilatory down postulation connected what they accidental is an progressively engaged street.

"I cognize it says Audubon. It's not the German Autobahn. It's Audubon-like trees. So, this is simply a scenic drive. People are expected to bask themselves and thrust safely," said Fresno City Council Vice President Mike Karbassi, who represents District 2, including the Audubon and Del Mar intersection.

Karbassi has spearheaded the task and says velocity and postulation were 1 of the archetypal issues helium was informed of erstwhile helium archetypal joined the Fresno City Council successful 2019.

It's an contented helium was passionate astir cracking down on, 1 helium says has been ongoing acold longer than his clip with the metropolis council.

"I heard residents archer me, 'We person been trying for 20 years to dilatory down traffic,'" helium said. "That conscionable stuck with me."

Karbassi says the airy not lone slows down postulation but besides increases bicycle and pedestrian entree and safety.

Dan Morrow, who has lived successful the country for 11 years, tells maine it's each they've wanted since helium moved into his North Fresno neighborhood.

"Especially with children. I person 7 grandkids. Whenever they travel to our house, they get retired successful the driveway," said Morrow. "'We privation to run,' you know? We got to hurdle them. 'Get distant from the street'", Morrow said.

While those who unrecorded connected the roadworthy look happy, not everyone's thrilled.

Some drivers, galore of which usage Audubon Drive arsenic a shortcut betwixt Nees Avenue and Friant Road, could beryllium heard and seen successful our abbreviated clip astatine the intersection arsenic they expressed their frustration.

We heard a telephone to "turn disconnected the light", saw a purposeful red-light blower, and immoderate thumbs-down and different manus gestures toward the project.

However, Mayor Jerry Dyer says this is what the vicinity wants.

"We privation to marque definite that they are harmless arsenic good arsenic the radical that come, spell to and from Woodward Park," said Dyer. Yes, determination volition beryllium immoderate critics. I warrant it but I haven't been progressive successful a task yet wherever determination weren't critics. If it's worthy complaining about, it's worthy doing, and it's astir apt right," said the Mayor.

Officials besides accidental the task volition beryllium a large portion of managing postulation looking to entree the San Joaquin River from Del Mar, arsenic portion of the caller "River West" task looking to make walking trails and different amenities for Fresno residents connected 500 acres of unfastened abstraction connected the river. 

And officials accidental the information measurement won't beryllium the last, arsenic the metropolis undergoes a postulation survey connected Audubon Drive.

What that brings, we'll person to hold and see.