Date: Fri 13-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

state-DOT-Wasserman-302

Full Text:

gennews: State Agrees To Improve Signs At Dangerous Curve On Rt. 302

State Rep Julia Wasserman has been officially informed by the State Department

of Transportation that the signs will be changed at the site of the fatal

tanker accident on Route 302 near George's Pizza & Restaurant.

Rep Wasserman received a letter from DOT Commissioner J. William Burns, who

responded to her request for a review of conditions on the state highway where

the October 7 accident killed a truck driver and spilled thousands of gallons

of gasoline, forcing a multi-million dollar environmental cleanup.

Commissioner Burns said the DOT's Division of Traffic Envineering reviewed

that stretch of Route 302. "It is felt that the signing could be revised to

better convey the curvature of the road to motorists unfamiliar with the

area," he said.

Mr Burns said the work will be done during January 1997.

Rep Wasserman said she intends to write to the commissioner again and "make it

very clear" that significant changes need to be made.

"I think two things need to be considered - flashing lights and perhaps a

redesign of the intersection," she said.

Last week restaurant owner George Hoti said he would pay for additional street

lighting near the Route 302-Hattertown Road intersection, at a cost of about

$33 a month, because neither the town nor the state would agree to pick up the

tab.