News 8
NTTA plans to expand median after wrong-way crashes 
05:33 AM CST on Tuesday, November 3, 2009
DALLAS - After eight wrong-way crashes so far in 2009, the North Texas Tollway Authority is considering building a barrier to try and keep wrong way drivers from entering the exit at Wycliff Avenue.
The southbound exit is exactly where Jenny Hall, 28, entered while driving drunk in June. Hall's vehicle collided head on into 25-year-old Carl Lotspeich's car, killing them both.
It is also believed to be the spot Dick Eastin entered while driving northbound just last week. Troopers said they suspect he too was drunk when he crashed his truck. In this case, Eastin survived.
Now, the NTTA is planning a $20,000 project to expand a concrete median at the off ramp at Wycliff Avenue. The median would be extended by 45 feet on both sides, which would make an illegal turn onto the exit more challenging.
"If you extend it, it makes the turn more difficult," said Eric Hemphill, assistant director for tollway maintenance. "You can't go straight up the ramp without hitting a six-inch curb."
The plan is among those created after a tollway task force was assembled months ago to deal with the wrong-way crashes. The committee also plans to add sensors that can detect when a driver enters the wrong way.
But, both projects won't be complete until early next year
"We don't want to rush off and do something that's not going to fix the problem," said Paul Wageman, chairman of the NTTA board. "We got to be careful how we go about doing this."
The NTTA also considered spike strips and other means to disable a car, but the board said it was a difficult task to find just the right answer when considering all the consequences.
"We have to keep in mind the safety of our right-way drivers as well," Hemphill said. "We don't want to cause problems with them trying to stop a wrong-way driver."
Still, tollway officials said they believe their ramps are safe and well marked despite the higher number of wrong-way crashes that have occurred so far in 2009.
E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com
