HomeMy WebLinkAboutOaklawn Ave & Rt 25April 10, 2001
Jean Cochran, Supervisor
Southold Town Hall
53095 Main Rd.
Southold, N.Y. 11971
P.O. Box 25
Dear Jean & Town Board Members,
I am bringing to your attention for consideration, a traffic condition that is dangerous and
cumbersome. A condition that will women as Summer approaches.
The comer of Oaklawn and the Main Rd., (Rt. 25), becomes congested due to vehicular
traffic, schools and a group home. This is compounded by a large increase in Summer
traffic volume. "Letters to the Editor" in the past have suggested use of a traffic control
device, which I consider least desirable and resulting in a drastic backup-clogging effect
on "25'.
A solution I propose is to make Oaldawn's termination at 25 a "Right turn only". This
should not apply to school busses. I will explain:
There is a crossing guard at the comer, for specific periods of time, on school days. This
guard controls traffic for the protection of the children crossing 25 on the west side of
Oaklawn where a crossing lane is designated on 25. To allow the children to cross, traffic
is halted on 25 as are left tums onto 25. Right tums from Oaklawn, and westerly left tums
from 25 to Oaklawn, are negotiated as the guards arms can speedily direct. This is a
complex job to do and she performs it wonderfully. She is not always on duty and
children still have to cross. They as children do, look left, look right, but do not always
look around the comer to see if someone might have their directional on. Nor will they
see someone arbitrarily pulling out into their path. These children cross at all time of the
day and evening, winter, Spring, Summer and Fall based on school and sports activities.
The group home has a minimal effect, yet has its transportation busses try to enter and
park in its driveway for pickup and discharge while there is a line of cars backed up while
waiting to enter 25. The employees of the home park offroad as much as possible but are
still on Oaklawn. This narrows the north and south passage on Oaklawn.
During the warm weather and on weekends, the volume of northbound traffic increases
dramatically. Them is a noticeable backup of vehicles, sometimes down as far as the
main entrance of the high school. This is due to the seasonal increase on 25.
Of these vehicles in queue, only about one in eight are turning left. Left is the more
difficult turn since it crosses the eastbound lane of 25. The majority of vehicles turning
right have to sit and wait for that one or two vehicles turning left. Once the left turn is
negotiated, it's like "pulling the plug" and all the right tums are made. This is frustrating
to me and other volunteer firemen who wait up to one or two minuets to make the right
turn. This reduces emergency vehicle, especially ambulance, response time.
When vehicles are lined up in queue large trucks cannot negotiate the east or west turn
onto Oaklawn from 25, thus causing a backup on 25.
Them is no constantly used facility between Oaklawn and Jockey Creek, (Church, funeral
home, American Legion etc.) that would make the left mm essential. Cars leaving school
could make a right on Oaklawn proceeding to Jockey Creek or Pine Neck to enter 25
westerly. Traffic from Bayview that uses Pine Neck would continue to 25 at the gas
station for the westerly direction, church, Legion etc. This would be a miniscule amount
of change, if any.
Thus freeing up the intersection would: Allow for a much easier egress for school busses,
still allowing them to make the left turn onto 25. Allow a more orderly flow of traffic to
the right only. Dramatically increase traffic safety at the intersection for vehicles and
students.
In conjunction with the Oaklawn condition, Eastbounders on 25 turning left on Horton's
La. cause backups when east traffic cannot get around them due to parked cars on 25
adjacent to Horton's. No Parking signs for a six-car length at Horton's would allow
traffic to flow around those taming. (If the State created a left turn lane as they did in
Mattituck, the same "No Parking" would be implemented.
On a related matter, think of what benefits we would receive from the same "Right mm
only", On Horton's La. northbound at 25. The backup as far as Academy Press would be
eliminated.
Please give these matters consideration to make life easier for all. Traffic control devices
are a very last resort.
Yours truly,
Kevin E. Gallagher
Pres. Southwood Property Owners Assoc.