Another Hazardous Road

To the Editor:

As noted in the July 13th edition of The Bee, the Police Commission has endorsed certain traffic changes in the borough. I am certain these changes were recommended to enhance the safety of Newtown residents and visitors. It is in this light that I bring a dangerous area of Newtown traffic to the forefront.

Currituck Road has a posted speed limit of “30 mph” and yet, traffic flows at speeds in excess of 50 mph on a regular basis. The road is straight, smoothly paved, and in a purely residential area. It serves as a short cut or conduit between Main Street and Route 25. It also serves as a “quick” way to Exit 9 or the “back way” to Brookfield and Danbury. The high traffic volume of the Mt. Pleasant Road section of Route 25 is averted by taking this road. Residents, adults and children, commonly walk on the edge of the portion of the road located in the Borough, which has no sidewalks. A walk along Currituck Road from Main Street to The Old Road can be very hazardous as vehicles speed by in excess of 20 miles over the speed limit.

Combine this with the intersection of Main Street and Currituck Road, and you have, arguably, the most hazardous area of road in Newtown. This Main Street / Currituck intersection is angled at Currituck Road at a curve in the northbound direction and at the bottom of a steep hill on the southbound side of Mt Pleasant Road, making for difficult entry from Currituck to Main Street / Mt Pleasant. The traffic commonly backs up at this intersection and the combinations of angles, curves and speed make for an extremely hazardous intersection.

Northbound Main Street drivers use the 45-degree angle at the Currituck intersection as an opportunity to increase speed when bearing right onto Currituck Road. Strict enforcement of the speed limits and consideration of some form of traffic control to reduce the speed as vehicles approach the curve at the north end of Main Street, are needed immediately to avert a tragic accident. Perhaps a northbound yellow caution light on Main Street at the War Memorial and “speed bumps” on the south end of Currituck should be considered. Certainly, at the minimum, a “Traffic Study” for this area of Newtown is in order.

The recently endorsed Queen Street / Borough safety enhancements will encourage use of Route 25 as opposed to “local” Queen Street. There is also a significant need to encourage use of Route 25 as opposed to “local” Currituck Road. Also, the Currituck / Main Street intersection is as dangerous as the Queen Street / Mile Hill Road intersection. The town needs to examine vehicle and pedestrian safety on the north end, as well as the south end of the borough. Our increasing population and the increased traffic demand immediate attention to road and pedestrian safety enhancements plus strict enforcement of existing speed limits.

Sincerely,

Richard English

3 Curry Drive, Newtown                                                    July 13, 2007