University City car crash renews complaints over construction traffic

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. – Jani Bunn uses extra caution pulling out onto Delmar Boulevard.

“Traffic on Delmar is heavy, fast. You have to pay attention. You have to be a defensive driver. That’s hard enough to do when you don’t have cars blocking your line of sight,” she said.

She says people working on a new apartment complex on the road are constantly parking in “no parking” zones. As FOX 2 interviewed Bunn at the corner of Delmar and Lepere, a car pulled up and parked illegally right on the corner. The driver got out of the car and walked onto the construction site.

Parking is allowed along Delmar Boulevard, but not near the intersections. When cars are parked illegally too close to the crossroads, it makes it hard for drivers to see as they try to turn onto Delmar.

On Tuesday, someone was injured in a car crash at the corner of Delmar and Lepere. Police say the person has non-life-threatening injuries. Bunn’s cell phone video of the crash scene shows cars parked illegally on Delmar on both sides of Lepere. Police are still investigating and would not say what caused the crash.

“We have received complaints of parking violations and traffic violations in that vicinity over the past several weeks or so,” Lt. Michael Davis with University City Police said.

He says the department has given out several tickets and has even started to tow repeat offenders.

“We have even spoken to potential violators personally to inform them of the parking regulations and also offer alternative solutions to parking,” Davis said.

This is not the first time FOX 2 has reported on traffic concerns around this project. A year ago, a You Paid For It report looked into large construction vehicles going in and out of the neighboring subdivision.

Zack Deutsch is the developer for Avenir, the new apartment complex. He says, right now, they have around 150 workers on site any given day.

“We’re always messaging out to our trade partners with maps and directions of where they’re supposed to be parking,” Deutsch said.

Avenir has been in the works for nearly two years. People just started leasing units on the top levels with a little work left to do on the two lower levels.

“The common areas are starting to come together. They’re starting to paint the walls; seeing people living here and their cars parked in the garage, it’s real exciting,” Deutsch said.

Bunn says she is excited to see development in the area too, but safety needs to be addressed.

“My family is in danger. It’s never gotten better. It’s never gotten better, and now there’re so many others in our neighborhood in danger,” Bunn said.

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