City transportation leaders unveiled the upgrades from the yearlong redesign in East Austin on Wednesday.
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin transportation leaders say major intersection upgrades are helping reduce serious crashes citywide — and they hope a newly redesigned East Austin intersection will continue that trend.
This week, the City of Austin announced 2025 saw the fewest serious traffic injuries since adopting its Vision Zero safety plan in 2016.
Officials credit infrastructure changes — like those within the overhaul unveiled at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Springdale Road on Wednesday with improving safety.
A history of crashes
According to the city, that intersection saw 77 crashes between 2019 and 2023. Four were classified as very serious, including three involving pedestrians.
City leaders gathered at the site Wednesday morning to celebrate the completion of the yearlong redesign.
“We knew that the configuration was confusing and not serving all of our citizens well,” said Anna Martin, assistant director of Austin Transportation and Public Works. “We’ll see an adjustment period, but it’ll be safer overall in the long run.”
What changed?
The intersection previously had five signalized legs. It has now been reconfigured into four.
Drivers on Heflin Lane are now required to turn right after crews removed the traffic light in that direction. The redesign also includes:
A new northbound left-turn lane on Springdale RoadBus stops relocated to the far side of the signalImproved pedestrian crossingsProtected bike lane connections
Some drivers praised the changes.
“It’s a lot better,” one driver said.
Another added the protected bike infrastructure makes a noticeable difference: “You don’t have nobody crossing in front of you… They have their own little trail right here to get through.”
Others, however, were less enthusiastic, calling the new layout confusing or inconvenient, specifically the loss of the left turn from Heflin to Springdale, the neighborhood’s major north-south corridor.
Citywide crash data
Transportation and Public Works officials say similar intersection upgrades have led to double-digit percentage drops in traffic deaths and serious injuries.
On Monday, the city released data showing serious crash injuries fell 28% in 2025 compared to 2024. Traffic deaths rose 2% year-over-year.
However, city leaders emphasize that per capita, deadly and serious crashes declined — even as Austin’s population continued to grow. The combined rate of deaths and serious injuries dropped by nearly half compared to 2022, according to city data.
Business owner raises concerns
At the corner of the intersection, the owner of the Graboost convenience store said the redesign has hurt his business.
Sharif Prasla said a newly installed curb — about a foot high — significantly reduced his driveway access, making it harder for fuel delivery trucks to enter and for some customers, including those in wheelchairs, to access the store.
“It hurt my business,” Prasla said, though he agreed with the overall goal of improving safety.
Funded by 2020 mobility bond
The project was funded through Austin’s 2020 mobility bond. City leaders say the work was completed on time and on budget.
Officials acknowledge there may be an adjustment period for drivers but maintain the long-term goal is clear: safer streets for everyone.