Letter: Extremely dangerous intersection at Highway 395 and Hildebrand in Kennewick

The city of Kennewick and/or the state Department of Transportation have created an extremely dangerous intersection at Highway 395 and Hildebrand Road in south Kennewick.

Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers routinely run red lights at Hildebrand and Highway 395 going both north and south. Daily hundreds of Southridge students and residents cross Highway 395 at Hildebrand to access the new Trios Hospital, Southridge sports complex, and many new businesses along Highway 395.

Truckers should intentionally be re-routed to go around Kennewick using I-82, thus avoiding seven stoplights on Highway 395 from Hildebrand to Yelm Street. The distance is approximately eight miles farther, but the reward for residents is an easing of semi-truck traffic through Kennewick, while truckers would no longer have to negotiate seven stoplights, three speed zone changes and the congested Blue Bridge. The real benefit would be reducing the odds of a major accident due to an 18-wheeler running a red light.

How many tragic car/truck accidents or fatalities will it take to make officials aware of this death trap?

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Letter: Extremely dangerous intersection at Highway 395 and Hildebrand in Kennewick."