Why San Angelo's Thrill Show and Destruction Derby Must Go On for 12 More Weeks

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – The intersection of Harris Ave. and Koenigheim in downtown San Angelo will be without a permanent traffic signal for at least 12 more weeks. The absence of the traffic light at that intersection has transformed the busy intersection in the city's center into a thrill show and destruction derby for many drivers with frequent crashes. The traffic light, ironically, was damaged in a crash there earlier this month.

According to City of San Angelo Traffic Operations Superintendent Dustin Hohensee, a new "master arm" to hold the traffic light above the intersection has been ordered but will take 10 to 12 weeks to manufacture.

The intersection is currently controlled by stop signs and several traffic accidents have occurred there because drivers seem to be expecting the traffic light and are confused by the stop signs. 

Harris Ave. is a two way street while Koenigheim is a one way street. 

"A contract has been drafted for a contractor to complete foundation work before the master arm is delivered." Hohensee said. 

Watch video of the crazy driving around and through the dangerous intersection: 

The City has also purchased a portable traffic signal to be placed at this intersection but will not be delivered for approximately two weeks.

The traffic light was damaged in a crash and was removed in early January. 

A similar situation occurred on S. Abe at Concho Ave. in April 2018.  As we reported at the time, police chased a Ram 1500 pickup through town. The truck, eastbound on W. Concho Ave., ran the red light at S. Abe St. and crashed into a Chevy Equinox driven by an 83-year-old woman. The woman was miraculously not injured, but one passenger inside the Ram with the now-banged-up prisoner was killed. After striking the Equinox, the truck hit a pole that held up the signal light and that appeared to be what caused the death.

The traffic signal at that intersection also had to be ordered and traffic was controlled there by stop signs for months while the master arm was manufactured. 

 

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wDougL, Tue, 01/14/2020 - 17:32

Hey, here's an idea. Why don't they spend just a little money for the material and such and put up an "Old School " traffic signal the way it was done back in the old days? If they really wanted to do something about that intersection ... they would.... be hey ... what do I know, I'm just an ordinary 63 year old man with only a High school diploma. ( Where there's a will ... there's a way.)

Wabo73, Tue, 01/14/2020 - 19:38

It needs be fixed now it’s insane dangerous and every wreck there city needs pay for aka sued it’s stupid to not fix that ASAP I WENTthru there today and omg never again

If a study could be done, 75% of the upcoming accidents will be caused by drivers 70+ years old.... Guarantee it !!!

wDougL, Tue, 01/14/2020 - 22:22

... Doc.Ding-a-Ling Bat .... 99% of everyone that reads your comments would agree .... your opinions of other people's driving skills ... comes from that Black, Cold pump you call a heart and means less than nothing to the rest of the world ... now put that in your stethoscopes and hush.

If people would pay attention to traffic signs, get their heads out of their cellphones, and just drive this would would cut down on the number accidents that are happening there.

I completely agree with Mike Smith. I've lived in an awful lot of places, including overseas, and I've never seen such bad drivers as in San Angelo. People don't pay any attention to the traffic lights, stop signs, or even know the rules of the road. Drivers on the loop go flying down the highway like it's like Texas Motor Speedway. Tailgaters are everywhere. If you don't drive defensively in this town you're going to have an accident whether you want one or not.

Here's a novel idea. Those of us who know the light is out and that the intersection is a wreck magnet should take an alternate route. What? Go another way? Avoid that area? Believe or not there ARE other ways to get back and forth across town without having to go through that particular intersection. Now relax and enjoy a different view. Your insurance rate will thank you.

Here’s an idea that will help everyone: station one of the newly minted SAPD at that intersection & write a ticket to every dumb@ss that runs those stop signs. That should generate enough revenue to keep spare signals on hand, help the police budget out & teach these San Angelo non-driving morons how to drive lawfully. Same goes for all the idiots that think a yield sign on an entrance ramp means speed up!

Wouldn't have these problems if San Angelo adopted a "Venice" style system of canals by which all citizens were ferried by gondolas or boats of one type or another. The construction project would bring jobs to the area, turning all of the roadways into canals would solve the problem of poor roads, the canals could serve as extensions of the local reservoir, and tourism would increase.

Until the next major sewer main bursts and fills those quaint canals with untreated excrement.

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