How to Best Avoid Accidents at Big Bend Road and I-270

The outer belt freeway system of the St. Louis metropolitan area is highways I-270 and I-255. Interstate 270 begins at the I-55/255 interchange south of St. Louis and, from there, loops through Sunset Hills, Kirkwood, Creve Coeur, and other St. Louis County suburbs to I-70 at Bridgeton. Its northern leg extends from Bridgeton through Hazelwood, Florissant, and Bellefontaine Neighbors to the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River. I-270 is one of the most heavily trafficked highways in St. Louis County. Perhaps its most dangerous intersection is at Big Ben Road in Kirkwood.

What Makes Entering or Exiting I-270 at Big Ben Road So Confusing?

The I-270 highway leads into Big Bend Road at two points, which split off into four on and off-ramps. As Big Bend Road’s eastern and western lanes split at the intersection, there are two through streets that allow drivers to change direction. How those streets are controlled is what makes this intersection so dangerous.

There is no traffic light at the eastern through lane, as exists at the western through lane. Drivers who need to cross the through lane to get onto I-270 must stop and wait for a break in traffic. As Big Bend Road is one of the central roads in Kirkwood with heavy rush hour traffic, getting across may be no easy feat. Results could be catastrophic if a driver misjudges time and distance.

What Types of Crashes Can Occur at I-270 and Big Bend Road?

In July of 2021, three people were killed in a series of crashes at this intersection, as reported by KSDK. The first collision involved a semi tractor-trailer and a passenger car. The car hit the center concrete wall, then swerved back into the lanes and was hit by the tractor trailer. The two occupants of the car were killed. The truck driver was hit and killed by another vehicle while he was checking on the victims in the car.

Multi-vehicle pile-ups are one type of crash that can occur at the intersection of Big Bend Road and I-270. Other common types of intersection accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions
• Side-swipe accidents
• T-bone crashes
• Head-on collisions

How Can You Safely Navigate the Intersection at I-270 and Big Bend Road?

At an intersection such as I-270 and Big Bend Road in Kirkwood, conflicting streams of traffic require drivers to rely on right-of-way. To safely navigate a tricky intersection, keep these right-of-way rules in mind:

• When turning left at an intersection, yield to oncoming traffic traveling straight through.
• When crossing a through lane with no traffic signal, yield to oncoming traffic. Make sure you have enough time to cross considering the speed at which traffic is moving.
• Come to a full stop at an intersection with a stop sign, even if you have already stopped behind the vehicle ahead.
• Proceed with caution through an intersection when facing a green light.
• In an uncontrolled intersection, the rule is first in, first out. When more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, yield to the vehicle on the right.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer?

Kirkwood residents and visitors, as well as people traveling through, can suffer serious injuries in a crash at Big Bend Road and I-270. After an accident that was someone else’s fault, your best chance of recovering full compensation is to have a St. Louis car accident attorney by your side. Insurance companies are in business for profit and do not have your best interests in mind. For effective legal representation in a car accident claim, contact Page Law at 1-800 CAR-CRASH (800-227-2727).