"Going to the Danger Zone!!!"

Highway-154 Striping Crew
Hazardous to Motorists

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"It's just an accident waiting to happen and one already has," exclaimed a motorist on Highway 154 South, this morning. "Texas Highway Department crews are striping the shoulders, along the busy traffic artery through southern Hopkins County, and there is no warning before you run upon them or traffic stopped over a hill!"

"No signage warns motorists until they are right upon the crew where a flashing light is finally seen," continued the traveler. "They need someone out there flagging traffic and making sure that another accident doesn't happen!"

Monday night a four-vehicle accident occurred on Highway 154, as a result of traffic slowing down on the busy highway. Three vehicles and one highway construction vehicle was involved, sending several local residents to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.

"What is going to take for them to install personnel on the highway to flag traffic?" asked the motorist. "How many more accidents must  happen before something is done? Does someone have to be killed?"

 

 

Highway 154, the worst state roadway in Hopkins County and traveled by numerous milk trucks, other 18-wheelers, and many passenger automobiles, has received a "token" shoulder repair, recently and necessitated the re-striping of the shoulder. "The repairs made to Highway 154, recently, is like putting a small bandaide on a juglar vein that is spewing blood!" exclaimed the concerned motorist. "Drive down any road anywhere and it isn't more dangerous than that roadway. I can't understand why nothing can be done to put shoulders on that road! Residents along the roadway have heard nothing but empty promises, repeatedly, and still nothing is done! This roadway is a killer!"

"At approximately 10:00 a.m., Tuesday morning, the highway truck was slowly making its way down Highway 154, with some 37 vehicles lined-up behind the truck. Automobiles were turning around, attempting to pass, and causing all manner of dangerous situations," continued the local traveler. "No flagman was present and this was all happening up and down hills and the narrow roadway! Tell me that isn't a killer!"

A call to the Department of Transportation Office in Sulphur Springs revealed that a number of complaints had been received on Tuesday morning. Personnel advised that they were "looking into" the problem and hoped to have something done, later in the morning!

If you're traveling Highway 154, beware and expect long delays!

 

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