Resident voices concerns at intersection
Officials think more signage could help drivers
A sign on Great Oaks Trail reminds motorists turning onto High Street to stay in the same lane, but city officials wonder if additional signage is needed. Photos by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
Motorists turning left off Park Center Boulevard must yield to oncoming traffic.
WADSWORTH – City officials are wondering if some new signage or maybe eventually another traffic signal study is warranted to help correct some issues at the intersection of High Street, Great Oaks Trail and Park Center Boulevard.
Resident Jim Rivers recently spoke to members of council and administration about issues he has had at the intersection.
“There used to be an arrow (for traffic coming out of Park Centre Boulevard and turning to head south),” Rivers said. “But now there is no arrow and traffic from the west, they don’t always wait.”
Rivers said he has been close to being involved in an accident because traffic in the curb lane coming from Great Oaks Trail will quickly merge into the left lane as soon as they turn onto High Street without looking for traffic that has just turned from Park Center.
“They start out in the curb lane because they want to turn right on red,” said Councilor Patricia Haskins, who agreed that it’s a problem. “I have seen people do that. I live in that area. But I really don’t know how to make people more attentive drivers unless we have a police officer in that intersection writing tickets.”
Service Director Robert Patrick explained that before the widening project Park Center and Great Oaks were not aligned so the traffic signals were set in such a way where motorist coming from each street had green lights at different times. Now that the roads are properly aligned, the traffic signal has changed. Patrick added the city had a firm conduct a traffic signal study to see if there was a need for a green arrow for motorists coming from Park Center.
“The study indicated that no left arrow is needed at this point,” Patrick said, adding that he can see where motorists are getting confused as the traffic signals have changed. “Adding the left arrow would end up making the waits longer and that could also cause some traffic issues.”
Patrick said the city has been looking for some ideas on signage that could be placed in the area to direct motorists to use caution and negotiated the intersection properly.
He also added that if problems continue it is possible another traffic signal study would be warranted.
Resident Jim Rivers recently spoke to members of council and administration about issues he has had at the intersection.
“There used to be an arrow (for traffic coming out of Park Centre Boulevard and turning to head south),” Rivers said. “But now there is no arrow and traffic from the west, they don’t always wait.”
Rivers said he has been close to being involved in an accident because traffic in the curb lane coming from Great Oaks Trail will quickly merge into the left lane as soon as they turn onto High Street without looking for traffic that has just turned from Park Center.
“They start out in the curb lane because they want to turn right on red,” said Councilor Patricia Haskins, who agreed that it’s a problem. “I have seen people do that. I live in that area. But I really don’t know how to make people more attentive drivers unless we have a police officer in that intersection writing tickets.”
Service Director Robert Patrick explained that before the widening project Park Center and Great Oaks were not aligned so the traffic signals were set in such a way where motorist coming from each street had green lights at different times. Now that the roads are properly aligned, the traffic signal has changed. Patrick added the city had a firm conduct a traffic signal study to see if there was a need for a green arrow for motorists coming from Park Center.
“The study indicated that no left arrow is needed at this point,” Patrick said, adding that he can see where motorists are getting confused as the traffic signals have changed. “Adding the left arrow would end up making the waits longer and that could also cause some traffic issues.”
Patrick said the city has been looking for some ideas on signage that could be placed in the area to direct motorists to use caution and negotiated the intersection properly.
He also added that if problems continue it is possible another traffic signal study would be warranted.
