Highway 99 remains a heavily traveled and treacherous route connecting traffic throughout Central Valley. And it only carries more danger for drivers when construction zones pop up. Motorists get funneled into narrow lanes and must anticipate the sudden, complete halt of traffic.
Speed limits are reduced in construction zones, but careless drivers can fail to drop their speed and end up putting many other motorists and workers at risk. Distracted drivers with a cellphone in hand might fail to see the brake lights on the cars in front of them. A dangerous rear-end collision involving multiple vehicles could be the result.
A reckless driver may be traveling well above the usual speed limit, let alone the adjusted construction speed limit, and lose control in the middle of a tight corridor. These mistakes prove hazardous during normal conditions, but the consequences can be devastating when congested traffic brings inattentive drivers in contact with so many more vehicles.
Highway 99 Construction Zone Accidents In Fresno County
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has seen a sharp rise in accidents along Highway 99 in Fresno County along construction zones south of Fresno.
FOX29-TV reports the highway work zone between Kingsburg and Selma has been the scene of almost 200 accidents since the project got underway in April of 2020.
Adding to the problem is that when accidents occur, emergency response is often delayed by the tight lanes and lack of shoulder in the construction zone. The CHP has increased patrols in the area to help cut back on reckless driving. They say speeding is the biggest factor in many of the collisions along Highway 99.
FOX26-TV spoke with Fresno-Area CHP Public Information Officer Mike Salas about driver recklessness. “Speed is the number one factor we continue to preach out there to make sure people slow down, have a high visual horizon. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t taking note of that.”
Caltrans continues its efforts to repave 4 of 6 lanes of Highway 99 between Sierra Street and Second Street and hopes to finish by the end of July.
Madera County also has a major Highway 99 construction project currently underway. CHP Officers there say they’ve seen an increase in accidents along the stretch between Avenue 12 and Avenue 18 ½ as well.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Serving Fresno And Madera Counties
Construction zones along a major highway can make an already hazardous trip even more dangerous. If the actions of a careless or reckless driver leave you or a loved one with a serious injury, talk with a Fresno Car Accident Lawyer at Maison Law serving all of the Central Valley. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation on your case.
A serious collision can result in a long recovery and thousands of dollars in hospital bills and keep you away from work for weeks. Let us determine the best course of action so that those costs don’t fall in your lap especially over an accident that occurred through no fault of your own.
