Sometime overnight both of these signs got knocked down on the northeast corner of Park & Seventh. The base of a stanchion near the crosswalk is all that remains from a previous accident. The corner was designated for major signal improvements in 2008 after being deemed one of the most dangerous intersections investigated by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The corner had 12 accidents in 2005 and 2006.
The Park Avenue corridor joins Middlesex, Union and Somerset counties and has high pedestrian traffic from nearby schools and businesses. When improvements took place in 2009, the road was striped over the lumpy remains of water company repairs because of the high volume of traffic. The surface was later repaired and re-striped.
The broken stanchion has yet to be fixed. There was also a big accident that took out a light pole on the northwest corner in August. In that case, city Signal Bureau workers restored the light.
Looking at the corner Thursday, it appeared a vehicle climbed the sidewalk and clipped one sign, then veered back into the street after taking down the second sign. Miraculously, the storefront of Park News was spared this time, but has been hit in the past.
As a senior, I have often waited through changing traffic lights to cross the street safely. Drivers seem to put their own needs above the rules at this intersection, and even though pedestrians have the right of way, I never want to challenge a hurtling Escalade or somesuch whose driver is in a big hurry.
Let's hope repairs are timely for the sake of all traffic, but especially for students, seniors and all others on foot.
--Bernice
The traffic signals can be configured so that pedestrians have a 5-10 second lead.. for what it's worth.
ReplyDeleteThere are whole intersections on Central - at front, and few others right up through West 8th that have neither crossing signals or crosswalks. Guessing paint is a tad expensive these days? I'd love to know who handles these things as I am sure there are plenty of spots throughout the city that have been neglected and the people of the city would willingly offer the information to the people in charge to let them know so minor things of this nature could be taken care of...
When the intersection at Park and 7th was redone I suggested that a left turn signal be installed, but that was ignored. One of the biggest problems I see there, I live a block away, is that drivers turning left are stuck in the middle and idiot drives are flooring it when the light turns green, thus causing accidents. Maybe we need to revisit some of the lights in this city. There are also many streets that need lines painted and Arlington near the high school is a mess and needs repair. Of course we know in this city its easier to waste money and do it a second time, the speed bumps on Kensington come to mind, than do it right the first time.
ReplyDeleteLeast we forget the horrific accident between a police car, and fire engine at this intersection in 1949, leaving one Plainfield fireman dead, and two police officers severely injured.
ReplyDeleteBill Garrett
Plainfield
I'm glad to see the coffee cup survived the accident
ReplyDelete