BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A Glen Iris resident called CBS 42's Your Voice Your Station team about a dangerous roadway he crosses to take his little girl to school. He’s taken his concern to pastors, principals and politicians for help, but doesn’t want someone to get hurt or killed crossing the street before something is done.
Kevin Ware walks his daughter to and from EPIC Alternative Elementary every day for school. He calls 10th Avenue South "the Talladega Expressway on the South Side."
“It’s kind of harrowing sometimes trying to cross in the midst of the rush hour traffic from both directions on 10th Avenue South,” Ware said.
That’s why he said they don’t use the crosswalk here at 11th Street South. Ware said it’s too hard to judge traffic coming from over the hill.
“We try and cross, I would say, at the apex of 10th Avenue because it’s the highest point and you can see traffic coming from both directions a lot better.”
There is no crosswalk that directly leads from EPIC over 10th Avenue South. The only ones are located at 10th and 11th Street South. Both are about a football field’s distance away from the entrance to the school.
Bianca Bennett is one of several people we saw crossing with kids not using a crosswalk at dismissal.
“It’s a nightmare unless you’re lucky enough to get to park over there,” Bennett said. “When you got parents like me, grandparents like me who have to pick another child up, I can’t wait in that long line.”
Bennett said they have no other choice so they have to take matters into their own hands.
“It’s dangerous because you’ve got some people who speed and may not have time to stop so you put the babies in danger and that’s my biggest concern,” Bennett said.
In 2019, the City of Birmingham did a road diet project that took 10th Avenue South from four lanes down to three including a center turn lane. It also added bike lanes and parking spaces along the sides of the street.
Birmingham Director of Transportation, James Fowler, sent us this statement about the road diet:
“The width reduction is helpful for pedestrians crossing the street, but we didn't look at changing pedestrian crossing locations specifically. The restriping project was the result of a major utility project going through UAB's campus at the time that caused the full roadway to be repaved. As a result, our focus at the time was on putting different striping on the new asphalt, and not really on adjusting traffic signals.”
James Fowler, Birmingham Director of Transportation
Ware is hopeful keeping this top of mind to school and city leaders can help make a change before it’s too late.
“I would hate to hear about or be the fatality that then motivates action,” Ware said.
Birmingham City Schools sent us this statement about crossings at EPIC:
“The safety of all students and employees in Birmingham City Schools is a priority for the Board of Education. Our BCS Operations Department is looking into matters on school campuses related to the traffic concern around 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue South. We also have reached out to the City of Birmingham to make them aware of Mr. Ware's concern. The city has been responsive in similar situations, and we look forward to a resolution to this matter.”
Sherrel Wheeler Stewart, Strategy and Communications Officer Birmingham City Schools
Because of our investigation, officials are now studying this area in front of EPIC. Fowler asked that we give him 30 days to come up with a strategy.