A Houston couple says they have had enough after watching crash after crash play out right outside their east downtown home. The wrecks, they say, have been happening left and right at a single nearby intersection, turning their block into the scene of one collision after another.
By their count, the toll has been startling. The residents said there were seven crashes in just the last week at the intersection of McGowen and Chartres, a rate of wrecks that has left neighbors rattled and searching for answers.
To the people who live there, the causes seem to come down to what drivers can and cannot see. Residents say the street lights are positioned on the sidewalk and are obstructed by trees, leaving the intersection poorly lit and hard to read for those approaching it.
They also point to the traffic signals themselves. Neighbors said the problem is not just a lighting issue but something about the intersection, the trees, and the way the traffic lights are positioned and tilted, a combination they believe is contributing to the steady stream of collisions.
The aftermath is visible on the pavement. Residents said there are car parts scattered all over the roadway, physical evidence of just how often vehicles are colliding at the spot, and a sign, in their view, that whatever the city is doing there is not enough.
The location adds to the frustration. Every time there is a crash, the intersection becomes blocked, and neighbors note it sits at one of the only entrance ramps onto I-69 along a stretch that runs between 288 and nearly to I-10, meaning a single wreck can snarl access to the freeway.
Residents argue that even modest fixes could make a difference. As one put it, no one expects to stop every single accident there, but some small changes, such as adjusting the tilted traffic lights or clearing the obstructions, might save some lives at a spot that has become a genuine hazard.
City officials say the concerns are on their radar. Public Works said it is aware of the recent wrecks and the safety worries, and officials said they are now investigating the intersection, a step residents hope will finally bring changes to a crossing they say has become far too dangerous.