Residents who live north of Mineola are petitioning the Texas Dept. of Transportation to extend the center turn lane along Hwy. 37.

The lane ends just north of the Walmart store.

Residents would like to see it extended north about a mile to near Rose Hill Road, where there is a turn lane.

They are hoping that citizens throughout the area will join in the effort.

The petition can be found at tphoa.net, which is the website for the Tuscany Park subdivision homeowners association. It is on the west side of 37.

Resident Larry Elms is among those pushing for the turn lane after he and his wife were the victims of a severe rear-end crash while waiting to turn into the addition in May 2021.

The Elms’ vehicle was pushed almost 100 feet up the road by a northbound driver who did not notice they were stopped and signaling to turn.

The Elmses suffered serious injuries and damage to their vehicle.

They would also like to see the speed limit lowered in the area.

It shifts from 45 MPH to 55 where the turn lane ends and then goes to 60.

In addition to Tuscany Park, there is a larger subdivision on the east side of the highway at Lake Brenda as well as many other private residences on both sides of the highway as well as numerous businesses.

There is also a Mineola school bus that drops off children in the area.