After Complaints About Bridge Conditions, Roscoe Residents See Structural and Safety Improvements

Austin Personal Injury Lawyers - Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) January 28, 2015 – According to residents in Roscoe, Texas, conditions have improved and accidents are not as frequent as they once were at “Destruction Junction,” an aggressively sharp turn found under a bridge at the intersection of US-84 and Interstate-20.

The bridge saw frequent collisions, many involving big rigs. Last year, a tractor-trailer slammed into the bridge and caused a significant amount of damage, resulting in reconstruction work. More recently, a tractor-trailer flipped on its side after trying to make the sharp curve underneath it.

According to Roscoe Fire Chief Gary Armstrong, the TxDOT recorded at least 30 bad accidents and at least two deaths in just eight months of 2013. Weather conditions and excessive speed on the curve contributed to some of the wrecks.

“This particular stretch of highway has a terrible reputation and one of the highest accident rates in the State of Texas,” outlined Brooks Schuelke, an Austin personal injury attorney with Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP. “It was so bad that area residents frequently complained to the TxDOT, suggesting they do something about it, since the accidents were due to the way the highway and bridge were constructed.”

Repeated accidents have taken their toll on the bridge itself. It has been taken apart and rebuilt at least twice after highway-speed big rigs ran into its supports.

KTAB covered residents’ concerns about the badly built bridge, the lack of proper signage, poor lighting and a dearth of speed bumps, drawing statewide attention. Fire Chief Armstrong offered ideas based on his perspective as a frequent first responder at the bridge.

“Sometimes complaining about road conditions results in a fix. Within weeks the area was resurfaced. Over the course of the year, speed bumps were added, along with signs and flashing lights. This year, the number of accidents went down from 30 to under 10,” added Schuelke.

Any life saved because community members spoke out is a major accomplishment.