Drivers say trees planted near busy East Side intersection reduce visibility

Some drivers told ABC-7 recently planted trees along the sidewalk near Darlina and Viscount form a wall that makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic for those who wish to drive onto Viscount.

“It’s a bad place for them,” said Victoria Wren.

“I’d like to see them taken down,” added Cameron Scott.

“It’s nice that they try to beautify it, but that’s an obstruction. Somebody is going to get hurt here,” said Victor Jeorg.

City Representative Emma Acosta told ABC-7 she hopes the Capital Improvement District will find a way to remediate the situation. “It is an obstruction for people who are driving and we don’t want to cause any accidents in that area,” she said.

Acosta agreed that is a very busy intersection. “Viscount, between Airway and Montwood, is the fourth most congested area in the city, so we know there is a lot of traffic there and we certainly don’t want accidents in that area,” the city rep. said.

There are no plans for a traffic signal at Darlina and Viscount because of the proximity of the street lights at Montwood and Viscount, Acosta said. Lights will be installed in the medians “because it is pretty dark at night,” she added.

Omar Moreno, director of the city’s Capital Improvement Department’s grant-funded programs, said city staff have not received any complaints regarding visibility.

“Our construction superintendent is working with traffic engineering to re-evaluate the placement of the trees at this location,” Moreno said, “Should it be determined the trees do in fact create a safety hazard, then we will trim, remove or relocate the trees in question.”