Car Accidents Up 33 Percent During Bell Road Detour In Surprise
It’s been more than seven months since Bell Road closed at Grand Avenue in Surprise, and the intersection will re-open in less than a week.
There were almost 100 more accidents this year than last in the area around Bell Road.
The detour spans from Dysart to Litchfield roads and since it opened in April, 406 non-injury accidents happened in the residential area, with 45 accidents and injuries reported.
Surprise Police Department spokesman Norm Owens said while the detour did have an impact on accidents, the process was generally smooth.
“We did have four additional injury collisions and on top of that we did have one additional fatal collision, but that investigation still at this time, we haven’t been able to determine if there was any direct relation to this detour at all, said Owens.
Bell Road at Grand Avenue is scheduled to reopen Nov. 22.
