Mariaregina Mendoza
•7/6/2026
MOORE HAVEN, Fla. (WINK) — Residents are continuing to push for a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 27 and State Road 78 East, citing safety concerns at the busy Glades County intersection.
The intersection serves as a main connector to Moore Haven. Many in the community point to crashes, close calls and the challenges of crossing U.S. 27 as reasons they believe a traffic light is needed.
Glades County Commissioner Jeff Patterson said the intersection has been a concern for decades.
“78 East and 27 intersection is very dangerous. That thing has needed a red light there for 50 years,” Patterson said.
Patterson said U.S. 27 is a major route for commercial traffic traveling through South Florida.
“27 runs all the way down to Dade, Broward County. So all these trucks, that are delivering vegetables, fruits, meat, stuff like that, that get flown in to the Port of Miami. Anything coming out of Port of Miami going north is traveling up 27,” Patterson said.
He also said traffic backups at the intersection could delay emergency responders.
“The other day I was in traffic, we were backed up all the way past the EMS station, so if there was an emergency, an ambulance couldn’t get out, a fire vehicle couldn’t get out,” Patterson said.
Community members say they share those concerns.
“It is such a safety hazard,” local Jacob Eighner said.
Glades County Fire Chief Lawrence Factor said his crews have responded to serious crashes at the intersection.
“We see bad wrecks at that intersection. We’ve intubated patients trapped in cars at that intersection. It could all be avoided with a stoplight,” Factor said.
The concerns aren’t new. WINK News first reported on the intersection in December, when drivers raised concerns about visibility and navigating the roadway.
“There are problems, such as nighttime visibility coming through and going through, you know, the intersections, trying to determine where to turn,” Doug Ballinger said.
WINK News took those concerns to the Florida Department of Transportation.
FDOT said a traffic signal warrant study completed in December 2022 found the intersection met federal criteria for further evaluation and recommended an Intersection Control Evaluation. The agency said it is currently evaluating potential intersection alternatives to determine the best form of intersection control for the location.
For now, there is still no traffic light at the intersection. FDOT said it welcomes feedback from the community as it evaluates the need for intersection control changes.
