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After neighbors describe repeated crashes, Lubbock County approves new stop signs in Indiana South
Summary
Following a public hearing where neighbors described multiple serious collisions and blind sightlines, the Lubbock County Commissioners Court approved installation of traffic-control devices at several Joliet intersections in the Indiana South subdivision and directed Public Works to install them as soon as possible.
The Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted Nov. 22 to install traffic-control devices at specified intersections in the Indiana South subdivision after a public hearing in which multiple residents described repeated wrecks and near-misses.
Resident Buddy Beach told the court his family has experienced “pretty pretty bad” wrecks at the intersection of 150th and Joliet, including a crash his wife suffered about 20 years ago that resulted in major injuries. “We’ve had several wrecks at that intersection,” Beach said, urging installation of stop signs or other controls.
Neighbor Robert Grimes said he has lived in the neighborhood nearly 30 years and has witnessed “countless wrecks” at unprotected intersections and showed a recent video of a crash he said occurred two months earlier. Grimes said the young woman involved was checked by paramedics and was pregnant; he said responders “think the baby wasn’t killed in this wreck.”
Terry Alspa described a crash two years earlier at 152nd and Joliet involving his wife and noted that changes in traffic patterns—particularly the opening of Quaker—have turned Joliet into a shortcut that drivers use at higher speeds.
Commissioners acknowledged the challenges of meeting traffic-count thresholds the county uses to trigger controls and discussed earlier efforts to collect counts or use wreck records. Commissioner Corley and others said they support using “common sense” and additional avenues the county’s staff have identified when counts are below formal thresholds but accident history supports intervention.
After public comment and discussion, a commissioner moved and the court voted to approve installation of traffic-control devices at the northwest and southeast corners of 148th and Joliet; the northwest and southeast corners of 150th and Joliet; the northwest and southeast corners of 152nd and Joliet; and the northwest corner of 154th and Joliet. Judge Parrish directed the public works department to install the devices “ASAP.”
Residents said they would be willing to assist with or pay for some materials if county permission were granted; the county response was that Public Works would handle installations.
The vote implements immediate safety measures requested by neighborhood residents and follows sustained local concern about blind sightlines, fences near corners and increased shortcut traffic.
