Most Dangerous Roads in Austin, Texas

Austin’s rapid growth has strained the city’s road infrastructure, creating some of the most dangerous driving conditions in Texas. Certain roads and intersections consistently produce high numbers of car accidents, injuries, and fatalities year after year. At McFarlane Law, we have handled crash cases from every major road in Austin, and we use our knowledge of these dangerous corridors to investigate accidents, establish liability, and fight for our clients’ compensation.

If you were injured on any of these roads, call (512) 222-4900 for a free consultation.

Interstate 35 (I-35)

I-35 is the most dangerous road in the Austin metro area by virtually every measure — total crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This north-south interstate bisects Austin and carries an enormous volume of passenger and commercial traffic. The section through downtown Austin is particularly notorious, with outdated design, tight merge points, sharp curves, and construction zones associated with the ongoing I-35 expansion project creating near-constant crash hazards. Rear-end collisions are the most common crash type on I-35 due to severe congestion and stop-and-go traffic. Multi-vehicle pileups occur regularly, particularly during morning and evening rush hours and during rain events. The I-35/US-290 interchange and I-35/SH-71 interchange are among the highest-crash locations in Travis County.

MoPac Expressway (Loop 1)

MoPac is Austin’s primary north-south alternative to I-35, and it sees heavy traffic volumes that frequently exceed the road’s capacity. The toll lanes have helped somewhat, but merge points where traffic enters and exits the toll lanes create new conflict zones. The MoPac/US-183 interchange is a particularly dangerous location due to complex merging patterns and high speeds. Lane-change crashes and speed-related accidents are common on MoPac. The Cesar Chavez exit in downtown Austin is another frequent crash location due to the sharp curve and heavy traffic volumes.

US-183 (Research Boulevard / Ed Bluestein Boulevard)

US-183 runs diagonally across the Austin metro from Cedar Park through East Austin, carrying high volumes of commuter and commercial traffic. The intersections along the non-freeway sections of US-183 — particularly at Lamar Boulevard, Burnet Road, and Cameron Road — are consistently among the highest-crash intersections in Austin. The transition between the freeway and surface-street sections of US-183 creates dangerous speed differentials. Red light violations and left-turn accidents are common at US-183 intersections.

US-290 (Ben White Boulevard)

US-290 east and west of I-35 is a major crash corridor. The freeway sections see high-speed crashes, while the surface sections through south Austin generate intersection crashes. The US-290/I-35 interchange is one of the busiest and most crash-prone interchanges in the region. The stretch through Dripping Springs and western Travis County has seen increased crashes as suburban development has added traffic to a road originally designed for lower volumes.

Lamar Boulevard

North and South Lamar carry heavy traffic through some of Austin’s most congested commercial and residential areas. The combination of high traffic volumes, frequent driveways and intersections, pedestrians and cyclists, and transit stops creates a complex driving environment. Lamar Boulevard has one of the highest pedestrian crash rates in Austin. Distracted driving in the busy retail corridors along Lamar is a significant contributing factor.

FM 620 and FM 2222

These Hill Country roads west of Austin were originally rural two-lane farm-to-market roads that now carry suburban commuter traffic far exceeding their design capacity. Sharp curves, limited sight lines, narrow shoulders, and steep grades create treacherous conditions — especially at night, in rain, or during rush hours when frustrated drivers speed and make risky passing maneuvers. Head-on collisions and roadway departure crashes are common on these roads. The FM 620/US-183 intersection has been one of the most dangerous in Williamson County.

SH-130

SH-130 is the highest-speed road in the Austin metro, with posted limits up to 85 mph on the southern segment. While SH-130 was designed as a modern, limited-access toll road, the extreme speeds mean that any crash is more likely to result in serious injury or death. Speed-related fatalities on SH-130 have drawn national attention. Tire blowouts and rollover accidents are particular concerns at these speeds.

Congress Avenue and South Congress

Congress Avenue through downtown and South Congress (SoCo) combine heavy vehicle traffic with significant pedestrian and cyclist activity. The popular retail and entertainment areas along South Congress create a particularly challenging mix of traffic types. Pedestrian crashes, parking-related incidents, and rear-end collisions in congested traffic are common along this corridor.

Riverside Drive

Riverside Drive in southeast Austin has been identified as one of the city’s most dangerous roads for all users — drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The combination of high speeds, wide travel lanes that encourage speeding, frequent bus stops, apartment complexes with limited safe crossing points, and a large population of UT students creates a dangerous mix. The City of Austin has studied potential safety improvements, but crashes continue at elevated rates.

How Dangerous Roads Affect Your Claim

If you were injured on a road with a documented history of crashes, this information can support your claim — particularly if road design or maintenance deficiencies contributed to the accident. A history of crashes at a specific location is evidence that the road authority knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Our personal injury attorneys use TxDOT crash data, City of Austin traffic studies, and expert engineering analysis to identify road defects and hold government entities accountable. Call (512) 222-4900 or fill out the form on this page for your free consultation.