Texas officials are seeking ways to improve safety on the section of State Highway 361 between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas after three people died in separate crashes on that road within four days.
For the next two weeks, the Texas Department of Transportation is asking for suggestions for improvements from the public, according to an Aug. 20 news release.
The call for input stems from a meeting on Aug. 19 between the Texas Department of Public Safety, TxDOT, state Reps Todd Hunter and Denise Villalobos, and state Sens. Adam Hinojosa and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.
Robert Lopez, 55, and Karen Lopez, 46, died in a four-vehicle crash on Aug. 14 while traveling south on Highway 361, the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office and the Corpus Christi
Police Department confirmed.
An online fundraiser has accumulated more than $60,000 to support the couple’s family. The web page for the fundraiser says they were Marine Corps veterans and left behind six children.
This followed the Aug. 10 death of Jarrod Fangmon in a crash on the highway near Beach Access Road 2.
After the Aug. 10 crash, a local resident started an online petition for TxDOT to install a barrier between the southbound and northbound lanes. The petition has gained more than 4,000 signatures.
The public can submit comments and suggestions via email to SH361_Safety@txdot.gov.
The information gathered will be used to inform a public town hall tentatively scheduled for early to mid-September on Mustang Island.
How TxDOT, DPS have responded so far
TxDOT recently installed these safety measures to address concerns on the highway:
- Deployment of five portable message signs, four equipped with cameras that allow the public to view road conditions in real time. The cameras can be viewed at DriveTexas.org.
- Placement of six electronic signs that inform motorists of their speed and remind them of the speed limit.
Hunter posted a video on X after the state officials' meeting outlining the agreements reached between DPS and TxDOT, including an increased presence of law enforcement on the highway to monitor speed.
Texas Highway Patrol Sgt. Rob Mallory said in an email that DPS began patrolling the highway on Aug. 16 at the direction of the Corpus Christi District Highway Patrol captain.
Hunter said speed limits along the highway may be lowered soon.
The current speed limit on the highway is 60 mph but decreases to 55 mph and lower when entering Corpus Christi or Port Aransas, according to TxDOT speed limit data.
The lawmakers will have weekly calls with DPS and TxDOT to monitor progress, Hunter said.
Past discussion about the highway
The last public meeting about the highway listed on TxDOT’s website is from Sept. 19, 2024.
TxDOT proposed to widen the current two-lane highway to four lanes with two travel lanes in each direction and add a raised center median, left turn lanes as needed and a shared-use path/sidewalk.
The TxDOT project tracker shows that a Highway 361 improvement project from Access Road 1 to Zahn Road is beginning within five to 10 years. The design is 30% complete and was last updated in June.
Felicity Guajardo covers breaking news and public safety. Contact her at felicity.guajardo@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas leaders seek to improve Highway 361 after fatal crashes
