Fatal accidents on highways 152 and 25 a cry for improvements

QI propose a new Roadshow contest. The contest should be to decide which highway is the latest Blood Alley.

— Dave Jones, Gilroy

AUnfortunately, this will not be a happy contest.

QThe use of the Blood Alley term managed to get the new Highway 101 built, and I can only hope such might happen again.

I have two highways to nominate, both of which have seen several fatal crashes over the past month.

One is Highway 152, which I refer to as a “converted cow path.” This winding, two-lane, 10mile section of highway provides the major route for many thousands of South Bay drivers and trucks as they head south or east. How can it be that county and state officials ignore this terrible road as they waste money tearing up and replacing existing handicap ramps at corners or existing center medians?

A month or so ago, there were several fatal crashes in just one week, and I expect we just don’t hear about them all. And perhaps I should mention the hourslong trip required on that road on any Friday night, or even more often than that.

— Dave Jones,

Gilroy

AThere have been at least three fatal accidents on Highway 152 in the past few weeks, including one that killed four people in one vehicle. The problem is that there are numerous drivers trying to turn left to get onto 152 in either direction.

However, to maintain access for nearby residents and farms, there must be a way they can get onto the highway. Plans to change this will require millions of dollars and likely turn Highway 25 into a new toll road.

Those plans are in the preliminary stage. In the meantime, officials will consider posting new warning signs and enhancing road striping.

QThe second nominee is Highway 25. My daughter says that lately there seems to be a fatal crash every week there.

Every night, traffic on 101 is on the shoulder for 1 or 2 miles, as drivers line up to exit onto Highway 25, where they are greeted by stop-and-go traffic all the way to Hollister. Most of these are people avoiding Highway 152.

There are so many dangerous entrances and exits I’m not sure I can count them. Recently there was a fatal crash between two trucks trying to safely navigate this road. How sad.

So since turning Highway 152 into a proper highway would also help Highway 25, my vote is still Highway 152 as the new Blood Alley.

— Dave Jones,

Gilroy

AThat’s the idea, improving two roads, and commutes, by improving one.

Other roads that have been candidates for contests like this in the past have been Highway 24 through Contra Costa County, Highway 17 near the summit, and Highway 101 north of Morgan Hill before 101 was widened.