Description
Accidents happen frequently at this corner (at least two in the last few days), which is controlled by a 2-way stop sign. Drivers on Nicoll will stop at the stop sign, then proceed assuming incorrectly that the driver on Willow has a stop sign as well. At the very least, the stop signs on Willow should carry an indication that crossing traffic does not stop, but a 4-way stop is the better solution at an intersection where people tend to barrel down Willow at an unsafe speed.
19 Comments
e (Guest)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
It seems that a four-way stop at least should be considered here, given the volumes of traffic. Whether or not a stop sign is a standard procedure for an intersection like this on a road of this volume, I definitely think that other measures are needed to improve safety as well.
The main issue is high speeds on Willow Street, combined with somewhat poor visibility. I know that a very large number of residents have spoken out at length about how this section of Willow is extremely detrimental to the neighborhood as a whole, has a major noise and speeding problem, and is not very bike-able or walkable -- it seems that comprehensive improvements to the street are needed before more drivers and pedestrians are injured.
Curb extensions would probably work well here to calm traffic, and could be done using temporary systems (as widely used in other cities) if permanent curb extensions couldn't be fit into the budget this year. Better road markings could also help somewhat.
These types of considerations are also important for roads like Cold Spring, Canner, Lawrence and Edwards, which also feed into the 91 entrance areas and State Street.
eyequeue (Registered User)
@e: There was an accident on Monday (the day before yesterday) as well as one today. If there was also one Friday, we've got a real problem on our hands!
@Mark: Well said, and thanks for putting this in a bigger context. Would curb extensions be possible here? Willow is pretty narrow here, with parking only on the WB side of the street -- there isn't any room on the EB side of the street to extend the curb into. (This is also one of the reasons Willow is not at all bikeable.)
e (Guest)
But I've lived here for 10+ yrs. and the number of accidents that I can remember here -- let alone the many that must have happened while I was not home, or while I was sleeping (and slept through) -- indicates to me a very serious problem.
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Here is a photo of a curb extension with parking. This could be done on one side and would help reduce speeds.
There is actually a nice one right now on Nash Street in New Haven, on one side of the street. It helps vehicles slow down before they turn onto Lawrence, in the process making the neighborhood a more livable and walkable place.
Temporary curb extensions are often installed until funding becomes available for permanent ones. In many cases, temporary extensions can be left in place for 5 or even 10 years before the curb is rebuilt.
eyequeue (Registered User)
Right, but the problem is on the EB side where there's no parking. It's hard for me to imagine how the curb could be extended without a parking lane to extend it into. The EB traffic on Willow has a narrow lane, and traffic is already whizzing past within a foot or two of the existing curb.
Anyway, I think the accidents are not caused by high speeds on Willow, but by drivers on Nicoll confused by the 2-way stop sign. It may be that Willow doesn't present itself as the major thoroughfare that it is... a problem that curb extensions aren't going to fix, especially if they don't slow the through traffic on Willow. A stop sign on Willow, or a traffic light at the intersection, would fix it.
Better drivers would also solve the problem, of course, but that's not something we can actually do anything about!
Anonymous (Guest)
The best solution would be to close the I91/I95 entrance and exit ramps on Willow St. and direct the remaining traffic onto State St. through the existing exits and entrances.
Exit 6 Northbound is a left hand exit; the state is spending tens of millions of dollars to eliminate left lane exits (see the "flyover" to Route 34 from I95 northbound - part of the Q Bridge project). Left lane exits are considered safety hazards and do not meet contemporary highway engineering standards.
Willow Street was never intended to handle the amount of traffic that currently burdens it. The DOT's original plan was to ram a highway through East Rock Park. The Willow St. exit ramp is the scene of frequent accidents. The ramp does not enhance the neighborhood - it is destroying it.
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
I agree with the above. However, as a first step, a planning and health impact assessment would need to be done around this to mitigate and address any possible negative consequences of the closing of Exit 6, as well as document any positive impacts. It seems that a petition may be the only way to demonstrate enough support for this type of assessment.
Eyequeue, you are correct that signal control is potentially important here and I'd love to see an assessment. However, traffic engineering (such as diverters or raised intersections) and lower speeds (made possible through measures like curb extensions and striping) can also greatly reduce or eliminate crashes. One of the reasons there are no signal controls here may be the engineer's opinion that they would be likely to be ignored, given the high volumes on Willow relative to Nicoll and the fact that signal controls are already located a block or two away at Mitchell and at Foster. I'm not saying that this would be a valid conclusion, but looking at the current state of the field, there are many efforts to reduce rather than increase the number of attempted signal controls on neighborhood streets.
e (Guest)
I wonder, Mark, if perhaps the volume of traffic on Nicoll Street is somewhat underestimated. People use it constantly to cut onto Canner Street (taking that left turn at ridiculous speeds, by the way). I always thought of Nicoll as being a comparatively sleepy street but it is actually quite busy, at least on the northern end of it (can't speak for elsewhere)...
While the curb extension on Nash is nice, and I've personally seen how it works well, I can't figure out how such a thing could be installed usefully here. I suspect it will take a death or two before anything changes here (if that). (Cynic, I.)
Mufid (Guest)
Horace (Guest)
ElmDriver (Guest)
As someone who uses the entrance and exit to 91 on a daily basis, the alternatives routes to 91 just don't make sense. There is no exit 5 going southbound on 91, exit 4 has a ton of traffic going into downtown and exit 7 is an awful set of lights.
Possibly a blinking yellow light or signs on Canner to discourage using it as an alternate to Willow to get to 91. With less cars entering Willow, it may cut down on the accidents.
eyequeue (Registered User)
Just now a near-miss accident of the same kind at the same intersection. Fortunately a police car was on the scene.
How can we ask the city to at least study this intersection? With all the discussion about how this intersection represents various bigger problems (the I-91 entrance, the need for traffic calming, etc.) I'm afraid I haven't really gained much perspective on how to make this intersection less dangerous.
Speed Racer (Guest)
eyequeue (Guest)
Bentley Mulsanne (Guest)
To be fair, the alderman has offered good, inexpensive, effective suggestions to alleviate speeding on Willow, such as alternating the parking on stretches of Willow, to create chicanes, but the city is resistant. Also, northbound exit 6, from I91, does not conform to either national or state DOT standards for design safety - left hand exits create dangerous conditions for drivers attempting to exit (never mind the hairpin turn at the bottom of the exit ramp, which is also the scene of many accidents). Red light cameras (controversial), as proposed in the last legislative session (and used successfully in Manhattan) would be very helpful too. The city is too concerned about the desires of suburban auto commuters (sound familiar?) rather than residents.
anonymous (Registered User)
City of New Haven (Verified Official)
クローズド eyequeue (Registered User)