Gilbert Neighbors Say the Intersection Is a Crash Waiting to Happen
It shouldn't take a tragedy to spark change. But for many families living in Gilbert's Marathon Ranch community, that's exactly what they're trying to prevent. As the town considers approving a new 91-home development, residents are sounding the alarm about a dangerous intersection: 156th Street and Riggs Road.
At Browne Law Group, we know how fast things can go wrong at problem intersections. It only takes one blind turn, one impatient decision, or one moment of distraction for a serious crash to change someone's life forever. And when that crash happens at a location residents have been warning about for months or years, the pain is compounded by frustration. You shouldn't have to fight this hard to be heard.
A Daily Gamble: Turning Left Onto Riggs
For people living in the neighborhood, trying to turn left onto Riggs during rush hour is a daily gamble. Long lines of cars back up as drivers wait for a gap in traffic. Sometimes they wait several minutes. Other times, drivers take a risk out of sheer impatience or necessity.
Rod Van Bebber, a Marathon Ranch resident, described it bluntly to ABC15 Arizona: "It's Riggs Road, but really they oughta call it Riggs Highway."
That statement might sound dramatic until you sit at that intersection and watch what happens. High speeds. Heavy traffic. A narrow margin for error. Add in teen drivers, new drivers, or anyone unfamiliar with the area, and you have a recipe for a serious crash.
The Development That Could Make It Worse
The tipping point for many residents was the proposed Lennar development, which would add 91 new homes and funnel even more vehicles through the already congested 156th and Riggs intersection. With 156th serving as the main exit for both current and future residents, neighbors worry that traffic will increase significantly without any new safety measures in place.
They've rallied. They've shown up. They've urged the town to act.
One clear ask? A traffic signal.
What’s the Hold-Up on a Traffic Light?
So, why hasn’t one been installed yet?
According to the Town of Gilbert, the intersection doesn't meet federal guidelines for a signal. Traffic engineers say installing one where it's not officially "warranted" could actually increase crash rates.
But to people who live there, that logic doesn’t add up. If drivers are already taking dangerous risks to exit the neighborhood safely, then the risk is real and immediate, whether or not it meets a statistical threshold. One Gilbert councilmember put it best: "Taking a left-hand turn on that street was like taking my life in my hands."
The Real-World Stakes of Ignoring Safety Concerns
This is where legal insight meets lived experience. At Browne Law Group, we've helped crash victims pick up the pieces after accidents that never should have happened. We've held negligent drivers accountable, but we've also seen the ripple effect of municipal inaction.
An intersection without adequate visibility, signage, or control can absolutely contribute to a crash. And while cities may be shielded from certain types of liability, the people who live near these roads are left to carry the burden—physically, emotionally, and financially.
More development means more traffic. More traffic means more chances for collisions. That’s not speculation. That’s a fact.
There’s No Excuse for Waiting Until Someone Gets Hurt
The residents of Marathon Ranch aren’t asking for luxuries. They’re asking for safety. They’re asking for their teenagers to be able to drive to school without feeling like they’re risking their lives. They’re asking for infrastructure that keeps pace with growth.
They're not anti-development. They're pro-safety.
And right now, they feel like their concerns are being ignored or minimized in favor of moving projects forward.
What Gilbert Officials Can (and Should) Do Next
To its credit, the town has said it's re-evaluating the intersection. Town spokesperson Joanna Guzman confirmed that alternative solutions are being explored, including options that could improve visibility or create safer exit routes.
That’s a start. But temporary signage or vague reassurances aren’t enough. The people who drive this road every day deserve a real fix. That could mean timing the traffic light at 154th to sync with a new light at 156th, or it could mean rerouting traffic patterns entirely. But doing nothing? That’s not a solution.
We Stand With Gilbert Families Fighting for Safety
At Browne Law Group, we support the residents of Marathon Ranch and all Gilbert neighborhoods advocating for safer roads. We've built our practice around protecting people who’ve been injured by preventable negligence, and we know how quickly a dangerous intersection can go from an inconvenience to a catastrophe.
If you're ever hurt in a crash caused by unsafe road conditions or driver negligence, our team is ready to help. We’ll give you the straight facts, investigate what happened, and fight for the justice and financial compensation you deserve.
"These are not the 'commons' you see out there, but a set of experts who fully know what they are doing and what to do next and how to best handle each situation. They act swiftly and helpfully. From the Intake Manager to my assigned Paralegal, as well as a welcome letter from Byron himself, who gave me the opportunity to reach him directly for any concerns, I can undoubtedly say that I am at the right place with the right people handling my case." - Emmanuel O., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐