HARLINGEN — Along a 400-foot roadway, Adrianna Garcia has seen about eight traffic accidents in the last two years.
“It’s dangerous,” Garcia said this week at a T-Mobile store near the intersection of East Austin Avenue and 77 Sunshine Strip.
“A lot of people just don’t look at the traffic coming four different ways — especially when school is getting out. Everyone is in a rush to pick up their kids.”
Now, city officials plan to close the 400-foot stretch at 1200 E. Austin and 1000 77 Sunshine Strip.
“I myself think it should be shut down,” clerk Blue Morin said at Auto Zone, right across the street from the stretch.
“I’ve seen five or six (accidents) myself, but there’s been more than that,” said Morin, who has worked at the shop for two years.
“I was talking to an officer because of a wreck. A lady ran a stop sign. That’s what really happens,” Morin said. “Some are little fender-benders but I’ve seen good wrecks where they had to go to the hospital.”
Earlier this week, city commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance that would close the 400-foot roadway located between two median strips.
Since 2010, the roadway has been the scene of 30 traffic accidents, Assistant City Manager Carlos Sanchez said.
Sanchez said the roadway is poorly designed to handle heavy traffic near Harlingen High School and St. Alban’s Episcopal Day School.
“Part of it is the design and part of it is the volume of traffic,” Sanchez said. “It’s multi-directional.”
Commissioners are expected to close the roadway in their next meeting June 7.
But before the city closes the roadway, the city plans to barricade it, City Manager Dan Serna said.
“We’re going to barricade it for a time to make sure this is something that’s going to resolve the safety concerns we have,” Serna said.
Abbie Gonzalez – Great! I drive through there daily for pickups at St Alban’s & it is scary. Most times people don’t pay attention.
Jason Elizondo – This is great news. I pass by this every morning and it’s a nightmare for drivers taking their kids to school and getting to work. Just sitting at the light, I’ve witnessed several accidents there in the last few months.
Victoria Marie – Great, that’s one intersection that’s an issue, the other is by the Elks Lodge, it’s a challenge at times during peak hours.
Monica Rodriguez – Closing the street is not going to solve the issue or the way people drive. Drivers are causing the accident not the intersection.
Steven Almazan – Great cause I hate waiting minutes for people to pass and they come at you 45 mph.
Jose Luis Elizondo – I had an accident on that corner last year. Hit by a drunk driver.
Franklin De Leon – Yes. I have to pass through that intersection every morning and every afternoon its tricky just have to be on your toes! About to head that way now.
Jonas Zamora – About time. That section is useless and totally unnecessary.
Amanda Ashlee – Yes that section is a risky street.
Chuck Navarro – Finally! That intersection is a death trap.
