An increase in deaths along Highway 361 is prompting residents to seek immediate safety changes. Here’s what you need to know.
Highway 361 sits along the Coastal Bend in South Texas. It serves as the primary connection between Padre Island and Port Aransas, and for the last several months, it has become an increasingly deadly place to drive. Within the span of a few days in August, three people were killed in vehicle collisions: Jarrod Fangman (59), Karen Lopez (46), and Roberto “Robert” Lopez (55).
Following their deaths, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) decided to lower the speed limit on Highway 361 from 60 mph to 50 mph. Electronic signs were posted along the 15-mile route to alert drivers of the change. Extra patrols were added for another layer of safety, and the results were staggering. Over 200 traffic stops were made within 48 hours of the increase in patrols and six people were arrested, one for DWI.
A proposed restructure of the road, known as “SH 361 Mustang Island Project,” is currently in the works, but construction and completion of the project are several years away. In the meantime, residents in Coastal Bend are seeking more immediate safety changes to prevent additional deaths from taking place. A petition on Change.org has been started by David Jensen, and as of writing, over 4,600 people have signed in support.
Jensen wrote, in part, “We are aware that TxDOT is already planning major improvements to this corridor, including divided roadway and median improvements. We support those plans. But we do not believe we should wait years. We are asking TxDOT to begin installing physical separation between opposing lanes now, wherever it can reasonably and safely be done. Concrete median barriers or another engineered barrier system could be installed in phases along the existing roadway and remain in place while the larger highway improvement project moves forward.”
He added, “Openings can be maintained where necessary for intersections, turning movements, emergency access, businesses, and beach access. The goal is not to eliminate access. The goal is to prevent a vehicle that crosses the centerline from immediately entering oncoming traffic.”
In the comments, numerous people shared alarming experiences from their time traveling along Highway 361. One commenter, Denise, said it’s the worst highway she’s ever driven on, and another, Joseph, said “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to react quickly to avoid an accident, especially near head-on collisions.”
Improvements would include adding more lanes and medians
In the Texas Department of Transportation’s presentation on “SH 361 Mustang Island Project” is a shocking statistic: “The last deathless day on Texas roadways was November 7, 2000. That means for almost 24 years, at least one person has died every single day on Texas roadways.” It shows a bigger problem beyond that of Highway 361, but it also highlights the need for temporary solutions to be put in place to keep people safe as larger projects are completed.
The Highway 361 transformation project includes expanding the two undivided lanes into four divided lanes, as well as adding designated left-turn carveouts and raised medians. TxDOT plans to add a sidewalk for cyclists and pedestrians as well in an effort to decrease the likelihood of fatalities arising from everyone trying to share the road at once. They’re all positive changes, but the project has yet to receive environmental clearance or begin construction.
At this rate, these changes wouldn’t be fully implemented until sometime in 2030, which is simply too long to wait. As one resident, Elizabeth, commented on David Jensen’s Change.org petition, “I can kind-of understand highway 361 on Padre Island being two lanes wide BACK IN THE 50s!!! In 2026, with a population approaching 350k, a two-lane highway for that kind of traffic is deplorable to the point that people are dying from it. “
