EPD: KFC spurs ‘traffic issues’ but no rise in collisions
Long lines at the newly opened KFC in Eureka have not spurred any spike in traffic collisions, local law enforcement agencies say, but that doesn’t mean the increased traffic has not been problematic.
“There has been some traffic issues with the opening of KFC, mainly to do with misunderstanding the traffic flow and laws regarding stopping in the roadway,” Eureka Police Capt. Brian Stephens said in an email to the Times-Standard, “and also impatient patrons.”
According to Stephens, “there has not been an increase in traffic collisions but definitely some traffic issues.”
KFC worked with Caltrans, according to agency spokesman Myles Cochrane, and obtained a
“There has been some traffic issues with the opening of KFC, mainly to do with misunderstanding the traffic flow and laws regarding stopping in the roadway, and also impatient patrons.”
permit. KFC hired a local traffic control company to help with the overflow of traffic from fried chicken-loving patrons.
“I’m told the traffic control will be in place there as long as there is a need,” Cochrane said.
KFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment about traffic control issues.
“CHP took part with EPD, the City of Eureka, Caltrans and KFC to discuss the traffic plan that was approved by Caltrans and submitted by a traffic control company,” Stephens said. “EPD and CHP are not a part of the traffic plan, and EPD only has responded when there have been disturbances and safety issues.”
Paul Craft, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency has not responded to any collisions in the area because the stretches of Highway 101 that are within Eureka city limits are EPD’s jurisdiction alone.
“We haven’t been involved,”
Craft said. “We used to take all major injuries. But that agreement has since been redone.”
When In-N-Out opened in July 2020, there were hourslong lines for burgers. Stephens said that situation was different in terms of traffic woes.
“It’s hard to compare the two as In-N-Out has a much longer drive-thru option, but they didn’t have a shoulder lane wide enough on the southbound side to stack cars, so a lane diversion was used to accommodate the drive-thru overflow,” he said. “On the northbound side to KFC, there is a parking lane wide enough to handle the overflow drive-thru traffic but it is limited in length due to the lane ending near Traffic Specialty Business.”
— Eureka Police Capt. Brian Stephens