When a particular swath of road is always congested and is the site of frequent accidents, officials must begin looking at the causes and what can be done to remedy the situation. A new report identifies the state’s “Top 100 Transportation Challenges and the Improvements Needed to Address Them,” including several problem spots in the Houston area.
According to TRIP, a “national transportation research group,” seventeen of the state’s worst trouble areas are in Houston. Two of the top ten problem areas are here and five of the top 25. Those two in the top ten are on I-45.
The section of I-45 between 610 and Beltway 8 and the section between I-10 and 610 are listed in the top ten. The third most problematic area in the city is the 610-59 exchange. All three of these areas are in serious need of attention, according to the report.
Significant congestion and road deterioration are just a few of the issues that led these particular spots to be listed on TRIP’s Top 100. These areas are prone to serious accidents as well, and improving them could reduce the number of Houston-area fatal and injury accidents.
Mike Alford, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), says the areas are on their “radar” and they are looking at possible improvements. Right now, however, there is no money earmarked for such improvements.
“Texas has many more transportation challenges than it has dollars to put towards fixing them,” said president and CEO of the West Houston Association, Roger Hord. He said, however, that the state can’t afford not to fix them.
Many of these road improvement projects are seen as a matter of financial responsibility and need—that improved transportation will help Houston’s workers get to their jobs on time and will help reduce wear and tear on vehicles. But perhaps the most important aspect is how it affects road safety and the reduction of accidents.
Traffic congestion often leads to rear-end accidents. Similarly, accidents can lead to greater congestion, which can cause more accidents, and so on. When roads are in good condition and are wide enough to accommodate all necessary lanes of traffic, everyone is safer (and happier).
