BETHEL – Instead of town-desired traffic signals at the visually-cluttered intersection of Route 2 and Parkway, installation of a flashing beacon is in the works.

That’s what selectmen learned at their Dec. 2 board meeting after Walkers Mill Road resident Jewel Clark complained about the hazardous intersection.

According to Brian Keezer of the Maine Department of Transportation’s Division 7 branch in Dixfield, the $175,000 project is slated to be advertised in December 2005.

The proposed work includes installation of a flashing beacon, a flush concrete island on Route 2 westbound to replace the existing painted island, and relocating at least two utility poles in front of Rite-Aid to increase sight distance.

The project also might combine Rite-Aid’s entrance with the easterly entrance to the restaurant next door.

Keezer said in an e-mail to Town Manager Scott Cole that the project’s scope “has not been set in stone.”

In a letter to selectmen dated Nov. 25, Clark voiced “extreme concern” about the intersection and cited her “strong desire to encourage whatever is required to improve the situation.”

“I have always experienced the intersection as confusing, frustrating, too often frightening, and, of course, dangerous,” Clark stated.

Traffic flows into the intersection from three directions, two of which have two lanes. On the opposite side of the road, there are a pair of business entrances and exits to The Crossroads Diner and Deli and Rite-Aid Pharmacy.

“Although I immensely appreciate living in the small town/village atmosphere, when I am driving a car … waiting to take my turn through an intersection where I either cannot see, or am witnessing other drivers appearing as though they are attempting to scan their memories, trying to recall the part of the driver’s ed manual devoted to intersections in hopes of remembering ‘who’ goes ‘when,’ believe me, I long for a traffic light,” Clark wrote.

Selectmen and Cole have argued the need for a stop signal to regulate traffic and control speed.

“The MDOT doesn’t want stop lights on Route 2, but we think we have a unique condition there,” Cole said Tuesday evening. “A flashing beacon is not good enough. We need a higher level traffic device and we need it in place sooner than 2006.”

The transportation department, however, has steadfastly maintained that a signal light isn’t needed. Keezer continued that thinking.

“Counts were last taken in August 1999 and there was such a low volume of traffic coming from the side roads (Parkway and Rite-Aid parking lot) that it didn’t even really come close to meeting the warrants for a traffic signal,” he stated.

At the Dec. 2 meeting, selectmen asked Cole to with the transportation department again and schedule a meeting of town and state officials on the matter.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link