Residents voice concerns about London intersection safety
The Texas Department of Transportation has received recent reports about safety concerns at an FM 43 intersection near London ISD schools.
The department put out a traffic reminder Wednesday about safety at the intersection of FM 43 and London Pirate Road, urging drivers to use caution when approaching the intersection near London ISD school campuses.
London Pirate Road is also known as County Road 33.
"We're at that intersection all the time, and there's rarely a day that goes by that I don't see someone run that light," London resident Ryan Frantz said.
Texas Department of Transportation public information officer Rickey Dailey shared information with the Caller-Times about recent crashes at the intersection of FM 43 and County Road 33 or London Pirate Road.
Since Dec. 1, 2020, the transportation department has recorded five crashes at the intersection.
Three occurred in 2021, resulting in no injuries, though vehicles were damaged. Two of the crashes were the result of failure to control speed, while another in March 2021 was the result of a vehicle turning left on the County Road 33 without yielding and crashing into a vehicle going straight westbound on FM 43.
During the two most recent crashes, drivers disregarded the red traffic signal light, according to the information provided by Dailey.
During a July 2023 crash, a vehicle was traveling between 90 and 100 mph. The most recent crash at the intersection occurred less than a month ago on April 7, resulting in a suspected serious injury, according to the information provided by Dailey.
The London community near Corpus Christi's Southside has grown in recent years, with new residents and businesses. Last year, over 1,500 students attended school in London ISD, a jump of over 300 students in four years from 2019-20, when the district had 1,200 students.
In response to this growth, the state transportation department has added several safety features in the area over the past several years, including dedicated turn lanes, advance warning signs, reduced speed limit and the installation of a traffic signal.
Most recently, the department added flashers to the warning signs to increase visibility, according to the traffic reminder.
"Although the traffic signal has been fully operational for three years, the public is notifying TxDOT that some motorists are disregarding the traffic signal," the reminder states.
Frantz said there are times he and his family have almost been hit at that intersection. He's concerned that one day there might be serious or fatal crash at the intersection.
Frantz would like to see additional traffic safety measures, such as a more prominent stoplight or rumble strips.
Frantz said residents would also like to see a sidewalk along County Road 33, where some London students walk to and from school.
Frantz is one of several local residents who have reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as Corpus Christi city officials about safety in the area. The intersection is at the boundary of a parcel of land annexed by the city in February.
The TxDOT reminder urges motorists to slow down near the intersection and to be prepared to stop and obey traffic signals.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Residents voice concerns about London intersection safety
