The Big Spring City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night requesting that TxDOT — which is responsible for the thoroughfare — provide additional street lamps and a three-way hazard light for the location.

“It’s very poorly lighted and right after a curve in the road,” said Todd Darden, assistant city manager. “TxDOT lighting ends at about Dr. Myers office (1702 W. FM 700). We visited with them (TxDOT) about the problem and suggested they look at putting up a light and they talked about just going out and putting up reflective buttons. We felt that type of reflective warning wasn’t enough to take care of the safety issue we have.”

Darden said he hopes the resolution will help influence TxDOT’s decision in the matter, but it could have little or no effect.

“It may not go any further than this,” said Darden. “But this resolution says the council supports TxDOT having additional lighting for that driveway, as well as a caution lamp warning traffic going through the area that emergency vehicles do use that area to enter.”

At least two traffic fatalities have taken place at the location in the past year.

Mary Hughes, 91, of Big Spring was pronounced dead at Scenic Mountain Medical Center Aug. 17, 2007, after her vehicle was struck by an automobile traveling west on the inside lane of FM 700. Hughes was attempting to turn east on FM 700, according to law enforcement officials.

A similar crash involving a motorcycle claimed the life of 56-year-old John Turner at the same location Oct. 31, 2007. Turner, who was traveling west on FM 700, died after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle that was attempting to make a left turn onto the roadway.

McEwen said there may be a second way to help make the stretch of road safer if TxDOT balks on the city’s request.

“It would be great if they did this, but my question is would it become safer if they designated that as a slower area?” asked McEwen. “Would it help if we had a slower speed limit there? The reason I think of that is there is a stretch of Highway 71 going into Austin where numerous people have been killed because people don’t observe the traffic laws. Last weekend I was there, and there were like four or five highway patrolmen giving out lots and lots of tickets. The theory I saw is people are going to start slowing down if you hit their pocketbook.

“My concern is this is a very dangerous area because you have emergency vehicles coming in and you have people that are absolutely flying through the area,” he added. “Does anybody have a problem with changing the speed limit in that area?”

Councilwoman Gloria McDonald said she’s not sure if a decrease in the speed limit on the stretch of FM 700 is the answer to the problem.

“I hate to change the speed limit on an area designed to get around from Point A to Point B,” said McDonald. “For such a small area, I think it would be very hard to enforce. Of course, if you get a ticket three times right there, you will slow down.”

Darden said TxDOT is expected to conduct a study of the location — including any history of traffic accidents — and report their findings to the city.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it