Senator urges DOT to install safety measures to prevent overpass crashes in Midwood

Elected officials and residents in Midwood say overpass crashes happen too often, and the impact on traffic can be extremely disruptive.
Residents say it’s not uncommon for a truck that's too big to get stuck or crash.
This past weekend, a truck crashed near Avenue K and 15 Street. Another truck crashed in the same spot in January.

Sen. Simcha Felder has asked the Department of Transportation to install different measures to prevent the incidents. 
 
“Flashing sign lights that are very visible a few blocks before in each direction, poles at that height so that a truck passes it, hits and says ‘oh, this is not a good thing,’” says Sen. Felder.

The DOT upgraded existing signs with reflective material, but in the year since those upgrades, many say it hasn't helped.

The DOT responded to the senator saying there is no need to install the flashing lights because the signs are reflective. They say they have been posted in spots that should give a truck driver enough time to avoid the overpasses.
In a statement to News 12, the DOT says, “DOT encourages all motorists to pay attention to the posted signage." Adding that two large signs are posted in the location.  
Sen. Felder now plans to request that the DOT commissioner come to the locations in person to better present their concerns.