CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Tuesday evening's fatal accident on Highway 361 has local officials wanting to see TxDOT's effort to light and widen the highway accelerated.
3NEWS has done a number of stories over the years concerning Hwy. 361 and the dangers it poses to drivers.
Some of the roadway closer to Port Aransas has been widened to four lanes and there are some passing lanes that have been installed as well.
None of the officials that spoke with 3NEWS knew for sure that lighting the highway and widening it would cut down on fatal accidents, but they are in agreement that they want to see the improvements made sooner rather than later.
”This stretch of road is dangerous we know it, lighting is an issue,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said
”I don’t know what it takes for TxDOT to get involved in this and do the right thing,” Commissioner Brent Chesney said.
”Absolutely we need to widen 361 and we need to get it lighted,” State Rep. Todd Hunter said.
Elected leaders are demanding that TxDOT move more quickly on lighting and widening Hwy. 361. The roadway connects Padre Island to Port Aransas.
Just like any heavily travelled roadway in our area there are going to be deadly accidents.
”This has to stop, we have to get this road done, this has to be a legislative priority, a TxDOT priority,” Chesney said.
TxDOT released a statement to 3NEWS after Tuesday's fatal crash saying it is going to assess the need for more safety enhancements.
"Safety is always a top priority at TxDOT," the statement reads. "We will review all fatality crashes to assess the need for safety enhancements and will do so in this case."
However, what separates Hwy. 361 from most other busy highways is that everyone knows there are drunk drivers coming off the beach and getting onto the road. Plus, it’s still just a two-lane road for most of the drive.
”Widening needs to be looked at, we need to look at the funding sources and yes right now we need to take the lead as a state," Hunter said.
TxDOT officials told 3NEWS they’re in agreement for the need to light Hwy. 361 and for expansion of the highway.
In another statement to 3 News, TxDOT points out it's working on a project to make improvements along the roadway. It’s looking at options to make improvements because of the increasing number of vehicles and development along Hwy. 361.
"TxDOT already has a project in the early development states for improvements to SH 361 from Port Aransas to Park Road 22," the statement said.
Mayor Guajardo told 3NEWS that next week she will be having a meeting with the TxDOT district engineer, Todd Hunter and others to try and find out the status of TxDOT's Hwy. 361 project and what if anything can be done to move things along.