In an effort to reduce the number of fatal wrong-way crashes in Austin, crews are tweaking "wrong-way" signs along one part of a major highway.
On Thursday, the Texas Department of Transportation lowered 149 wrong-way signs to 3-feet tall at Interstate 35 and 32nd Street to make the signs more visible to drivers. Previously, signs in that area stood at 7-feet tall. Officials hope this change will make the signs level with most vehicles' front windshields and closer to the driver's line of sight.
"Right now, we're focusing on I-35 from Riverside all the way to U.S. 183," Kelli Reyna with TxDOT said. "This is our first phase of implementation to where we're going to look to see if this is successful. And if it is, than we can roll this out to other high density roadways, such as 193, 290, 71."
Although it seems like a minor change, officials with TxDOT are hoping it will make a major impact. Since 2010, that particular stretch of I-35 has seen 15 wrong-way crashes. And I-35 is no stranger to sometimes deadly crashes.
Nearby cities such as San Antonio and Dallas have implemented sensors and flashing lights on wrong-way signs to alert drivers when they are traveling in the wrong direction. TxDOT representatives said they are focusing on lowering signs before heading in that direction.