HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville Police Department (HPD) is urging drivers to be careful in a “dangerous” intersection, as they notice a sharp rise in accidents.
This comes as the intersection of Memorial Parkway and Mastin Lake Road is undergoing some major construction.
City of Huntsville provides update on Derrick Street homeless camp clean up
HPD North Precinct Captain, Tony McElyea, told News 19 that there have been 15 accidents at that intersection since December 15th. He said 5 of those accidents produced injuries and one resulted in a death.
HPD said most of the accidents follow a pattern of northbound Memorial Parkway drivers attempting to make a left onto Mastin Lake Road, despite multiple road signs alerting drivers that they cannot make a lefthand turn at that intersection.
“The majority of the accidents, of that 15, have been illegal left turns,” McElyea said.
He said that drivers are being “t-boned” in the intersection because other drivers don’t see them coming.
“Unfortunately once you make that turn, the people that are northbound or southbound, depending on which direction you’re turning, they can’t see you until you get in the intersection,” McElyea said. “It’s already too late at that point.”
Missing Huntsville realtor was last seen leaving liqour store with 2 women
Right now the intersection is undergoing a major overhaul, as the Alabama Department of Transportation is working to build an overpass on Memorial Parkway over the Mastin Lake Road intersection.
“It’s a very dangerous intersection right now with the construction they have going on,” McElyea said.
News 19 spoke to some drivers who agreed.
“I travel back and forth periodically throughout the day, throughout the week” said Tkayceon McCarroll. “It’s terrible.”
McCarroll said between traveling to work at a nearby shopping center and getting to class at Alabama A&M University, she’s seen a lot of the ongoing construction at the intersection. She said the traffic flow is constantly changing because of the construction.
📲Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go.
📧Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox.
“It’s kind of confusing because literally every day it changes,” she said.
McCarroll said with the constant lane shifts, it’s hard for drivers to not get confused in the intersection.
“I feel like there would be less accidents if people pay attention to the signs because there are signs,” she said. “But at the same time, every day is a different route.”
McCarroll said her best advice to drivers in that area is to pay as much attention as you can.
“Literally right, left, back, front you have got to pay attention,” she said. “You have to take your time.”
MCSO says agencies are waiting for more info on 3 found dead after house fire
HPD echoes McCarroll’s advice.
“Just be cognizant of that intersection,” McElya said. He urges drivers to plan a different route if they can and to be careful if they can’t.
He said if you are traveling northbound on Memorial Parkway and need to make a left on Mastin Lake, go past the stop light and turn around at the next intersection.
McElyea said HPD is working with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) on an updated safety plan for the intersection. In the meantime, HPD has stepped up patrols in the area. He said HPD is “in that intersection to educate, to enforce, to try to give a presence, to remind people, hey, I probably shouldn’t turn here.”
McElyea said since December 1st, HPD has issued 200 citations to drivers making illegal lefthand turns in the intersection.
ALDOT estimates the overpass construction will be finished by the Spring of 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
