I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannukah. Now that you are getting ready to celebrate the New Year, here’s another reason to be joyful.
It was just announced that more highways will be built and existing ones will be expanded.
This news came after the media reported that that one-third of the fastest growing U.S. cities were again in Texas, including our Dallas and Fort Worth. Since our Texas population exploded by over 20%, 27%, 19%, and 23% each of the last four decades and we have no real public transportation, our roads are often gridlocked.
The huge influx of new drivers means more cars, congested roadways, and accidents causing deaths, injuries, and huge expenses and misery.
At least there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Hallelujah.
Dallas-Fort Worth Roads Receive Much Needed Funding
Texas Clear Lanes is pumping about $2.5 billion into Texas roads, including those here in Dallas and Fort Worth.
In Dallas, I-35 will receive a $776.5 million overhaul and in Fort Worth, another $265.3 million will be spent improving SH199, SH121 and I-820. These outdated roads are long overdue for improvements and the latest safety designs.
I have represented auto accident victims for the past 36 years, I’ve seen that even when a driver’s negligence is the cause of the crash, roadway design and maintenance often plays a role as well.
For example, cars must slow down when traffic becomes bottle necked on overly congested highways. Safe drivers leave plenty of room between the cars in front, see the slowed traffic well ahead of time and are able to apply their brakes to easily avoid a crash. A texting driver, on the other hand, may not react in time to the unexpected slowdown. Countless times, the defendant has said he just didn’t expect the traffic to be stopped on a major highway. Although there is no excuse for texting while driving, smooth flowing traffic can mitigate some of the risks.
Traffic congestion can also spark road rage. While there is never a good reason to lose one’s temper while behind the wheel, sitting in traffic can make even the calmest person feel anxious and annoyed. I have handled cases in which a minor incident was blown far out of proportion in the midst of a gridlocked highway.
How to Endure Road Construction
The bad news is that these major highways will be torn up for years before construction is completed. Construction zones also create substantial risks. As many of these new Texas Clear Lanes initiatives begin, here are some tips for enduring the heavy road construction:
- Map out your trip ahead of time so you know which roads are under construction.
- Plan for delays if your commute is along a road that is under construction.
- Pay attention to speed limits, which might be slower than you are used to on a particular stretch of highway.
- Be extra diligent while driving in a construction zone and definitely don’t text.
- No matter how frustrating, take a deep breath and remain calm.
Please contact my office if you have any questions about a car wreck or truck crash you have been involved in. We are here to help you.
Related posts:
Danger Ahead: Construction Zones on North Texas Highways
Road Rage in Dallas – Fort Worth A Serious Problem