Help coming for dangerous Fresno intersection. ‘There’s a history here of collisions’
A couple of Fresno leaders say they’ll look to study a high-traffic intersection that has been known to end with cars crashing onto residents’ lawns.
The intersection of Clinton and Van Ness avenues has anecdotally been the site of more and more car crashes over the years, according to some residents and the two councilmembers whose districts meet there.
Councilmembers Annalisa Perea and Nelson Esparza said Wednesday they’ll ask the City Council to approve a study on the intersection and its surrounding area to weigh potential safety improvements.
“This intersection, for my office at least, is probably the highest frequency of calls or messages we get of constituents asking us for help,” said Perea, who represents District 1.
“This is probably one of the most pedestrian-friendly areas, one of the most walked areas and most biked areas in our entire city,” she said.
For cars, cyclists and pedestrians, Van Ness connects downtown in the south of town north to Fig Garden.
The leaders said the study does not come with any additional costs to the compensation already paid to the employees who would conduct it.
It would parallel a study going on citywide to determine the 10 worst intersections for serious and even fatal crashes.
The Fresno Police Department has records for two crashes at the Clinton-Van Ness intersection last year and one so far this year. None of them included serious injuries.
Lt. Bill Dooley noted police records only reflect incidents in which they are called for help, and not every time motorists must exchange insurance information.
Homes on at least two corners on Wednesday showed damaged fences where cars had crashed into or through them. Photos Perea had received from residents backed up the origin of the damage.
On Clinton Avenue from Palm to Maroa avenues there were 17 accidents reported to police in 2022, and eight so far this year.
Poor visibility at Van Ness/Clinton intersection
The three crashes in 18 months may not eye-popping, but both councilmembers said they’ve heard growing concerns over the years from residents in the neighborhood that is popular to many modes of transportation.
The older neighborhood was built under older standards, leaving poor visibility on its corners, Perea said.
Reilly Rix, who lives in the area, said he uses the street most often for walking but also drives it. The 69-year-old has been in the neighborhood since 1995.
He said a combination of red-light runners and low visibility around corners makes the intersection a tricky one for watching cross traffic.
“You can’t tell,” he said. “You just have to be that much more careful.”
Esparza, who represents District 7, said safety improvements of any kind could be on the table once the study is complete, assuming it’s approved.
“Anecdotally speaking, without having the exact data, it’s not just been this last 30 days or 45 days,” he said. “There’s a history here at this intersection of certain collisions, probably because of the design.”
This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 12:02 PM.
