New plan aims to ease Broadway traffic

TYLER — The City of Tyler is taking steps to address congestion on South Broadway Avenue, one of the top 100 most congested roads in the state, by presenting a new traffic plan on Wednesday.

According to our news partner KETK, the traffic department unveiled the ‘South Tyler Mobility Study,’ conducted in 2023, as a roadmap to find short and long-term solutions to the ongoing traffic issues. The study suggests connecting other roads to Broadway and extending new roads as alternate routes for drivers.

As Tyler continues to grow, traffic issues are expected to worsen if not addressed promptly, according to Cameron Williams, a Traffic Engineer. He emphasized the importance of implementing a plan to prevent future congestion.

“As large undeveloped tracts become neighborhoods and businesses, new roadway connections will be critical,” Williams said. “This study helps us look ahead and plan strategically so South Tyler can continue to grow without creating new congestion challenges.”

Short-term, mid-term and long-term concepts:

• “Broadway Avenue at South Town Drive, Heritage Drive, Cumberland Road, and Centennial Parkway: Proposed intersection improvements include acquiring right-of-ways to add turn lanes, which would reduce delays and increase traffic efficiency.
• Broadway Avenue and Grande Boulevard: Recommended intersection improvements, including acquiring right-of-ways to add turn lanes, which are projected to reduce morning peak-hour traffic delay by 5% and afternoon peak-hour delay by 11%, helping improve traffic flow along one of Tyler’s busiest corridors.
• Waljim Street Connector: A proposed 500-foot roadway connecting South Town Drive to Thigpen Drive. The project would include two travel lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and on-street parking to create an alternate route between Grande Boulevard and Cumberland Road.
• Market Square Boulevard Extension: A recommended 0.6-mile extension from Cumberland Road to South Broadway Avenue. The project would include sidewalks, turn lanes, and limited access at Cumberland Road to improve access and traffic flow.”

The city is inviting residents to participate in a 60-day public comment period to discuss the proposed improvements. Feedback from the community will be considered in the final plan.

Funding for the project will come from the one-cent sales tax, and areas without development will have costs borne by the developer. Before moving forward, the Tyler City Council will have to approve each proposal.