Residents complain of dozens of accidents after 4-way College Station becomes 2-way stop

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – There have been dozens of collisions in two days at a busy intersection in College Station.

The intersection of Deacon Drive and General Parkway used to be a stop for four-way traffic, but this Wednesday it became two-way. The city has installed large illuminated signs to inform drivers of these new changes in both directions, but that may not be enough.

The city has installed huge illuminated signs to let drivers know about these new changes happening in both... — The city has installed huge illuminated signs to let drivers know about these new changes happening in both directions.(KBTS)

The change was prompted by complaints from residents, but nearby residents say many people didn’t pay attention, leading to dozens of collisions and one accident over the past two days.

A traffic engineer for the city of College Station tells KBTX what the new traffic pattern should look like.

“There is still a stop-controlled situation on both approaches to General Boulevard on both sides. While there are no more stop signs on Deacon Drive in either direction,” College Station traffic engineer Michael Holmes said.

The intersection of Deacon Drive and General Parkway used to be a stop for four-way traffic, but now... — The intersection of Deacon Drive and General Parkway used to be a stop for four-way traffic, but this Wednesday it became a stop for two-way traffic.(KBTS)

College Station resident Robert Marcavage, 12, said he avoids the intersection because of all the dangers.

“(I) thought there was going to be an accident very soon, and the next morning it turned out there was an accident,” Marcavage complained.

A traffic accident was reported at the intersection of Deacon Drive and General Parkway on Thursday, October 31st.(KBTS)

The intersection of Deacon Drive and General Parkway has become a hot spot for collisions, and Marcavage insisted he wasn’t taking any chances.

“If they stopped, let them stop until the end. Or if they were going to, just let them go. (I) just didn’t want to get into an accident myself,” Marcavage explained.

The city received numerous reports from residents and the Union Pacific Railroad that the four-way stop was causing traffic congestion, which is when the city began an investigation.

“We did a traffic count, did an analysis of the stop orders along the entire route, and decided that a two-way stop would be better for traffic flow and prevent queues on the main road and the railroad,” Holmes reasoned.

The College Station City Council approved the change last Thursday, Oct. 24, and the removal of the two stop signs was done Wednesday of this week.

“A full-track stop order was a little unnecessary in this case because there is already a safety issue associated with traffic entering the railroad,” Holmes added. “This is just a transitional moment. A new traffic control device has been introduced, which is new for drivers.”

The city advises drivers to use caution when crossing intersections and to read all road signs. This is for your own safety.

It was prompted by complaints from residents, but residents say many people didn’t pay attention, leading to dozens of close collisions and one crash in two days.