LORENA, Texas — A McLennan County intersection is now on route to become safer, at least that's what many families are hoping.
After years of crashes and pushing for change, the intersection of Chapel and Old Lorena roads will soon have a traffic signal.
TxDOT Waco District spokesperson Jake Smith confirms with 6 News that the process has started to install a traffic signal at this intersection. The department is taking bids for the traffic signal. He says it could take a few months for construction to start.
Right now there is only flashing stop signs on Chapel Road which the family of a crash victim tells 6 News they believe has helped but over the last four years they've pushed for more.
And they're finally getting what they asked for.
A local mother, Terri Rohrer started a petition to add a traffic signal at the intersection after her 16-year-old daughter, Anna, was in a rollover crash in 2018. You can check out the petition here.
"There were a lot of cars coming back and forth from each direction and I was probably there for a couple of minutes," Anna Rohrer recalls. "Then I looked both ways, and I thought it was safe for me to cross and just the direction that the sun was hitting that time blocked the car out and so when I pulled out I hit the car."
She says she rolled into a ditch and hit a tree.
Rohrer only had cuts and bruises, but she knows it could've been a lot worse.
Part of the Rohrer's push was sending photos of the many crashes at what they call a dangerous intersection.
Over the years, they were able to achieve TxDOT looking into the intersection through traffic studies and get the stop signs to become flashing.
They weren't sure they were actually going to get the traffic signal they were hoping for, but four years later and thousands of signatures pushing for change, it's happening!
"Putting up a stop light is long overdue," said Jamie Blanek, who was also involved in a crash at the intersection. "Thank you to all of you. It's because of you that this is happening and I know that this is gonna save lives."
The former Miss Waco knows how badly it's needed. She was hit by a car while helping others who'd been in a crash at the intersection.
It cost her a leg, but thankfully not her life unlike others.
"The fact that it's only $500,000 to put up a light," she said. "Why didn't this happen years ago when it should have happened. People could have definitely survived."
Blanek, Rohrer and their families say they're happy to see their hard work paying off.
"If you just work hard and you keep trying and you keep persevering and pushing with the right people it'll happen," Rohrer added.
The new light, a victory.
In memory of those who died there, in honor of those who survived and for all who pass through from now on.