The T-junction of Elm Street and Fifth Avenue has become an “all-way” stop.
One busy corner in West Albany has a new traffic pattern, and the city says it’s in response to complaints.
New stop signs were installed at the T-junction of Elm Street and Fifth Avenue, a key corner on the way to and from Albany General Hospital and the medical and dental offices in that neighborhood.
Previously, there was only one stop there, on eastbound Fifth. Drivers could make the turn from westbound Fifth left on Elm, and vice versa, without stopping.
The new stop signs were installed as part of the $1.2 million Elm Street repaving project completed this spring. The signs were shrouded until this week, when they were uncovered.
Why the change?
Chris Cerklewski, the city engineer overseeing the Elm Street project, explained in an email:
“The City has received ongoing complaints regarding this intersection. The most common complaint has been fast-moving westbound drivers turning onto Elm Street and cutting the corner into northbound oncoming traffic, and there being a lot of near misses due to limited sight distance and the vehicle speeds. There have also been complaints from pedestrians having trouble crossing at the intersection because traffic wasn’t slowing down enough. As part of the design process for the Elm Street overlay project, we determined that converting this three-way intersection to an all-way stop was warranted given the above issues and it was included as part of the project.”
So, no more swooping around that corner. Unless, of course, you’re on a bike. (hh)
It is interesting that the 5th&Elm intersection had been that way for over a hundred years. Behavior modification takes time even after adding stop signs and $1.2 million of improvements. Another example is the 1st Avenue Railroad tressle. No matter what warning signs were added the tressle continued to be run into; and that tressle has been in that location for over 150 years.
Hasso, I’ve brought this intersection up a few times at council. I’m so grateful for the added stop signs, and it made sense to get it in while we were doing the Elm st renovations.
– Steph
I hope your last comment was in jest. Reason?? I am a regular pedestrian averaging around 10,000 steps a day. Here in Corvallis, it seems like we peds are the lowest on the totem pole as far as having the right of way. I’ve had plenty of near misses, while in a crosswalk, especially from bicyclists who fail to recognize the law. Which is (for those who need a reminder) that they are to obey basically the same rules as automobiles. If you’re coming up to a stop sign, you’re supposed to stop (as opposed to “swooping around a corner”). Too many don’t bother… giving the law abiding riders a bad name.
Bicyclists are allowed to roll through stop signs if there is no opposing traffic. That includes pedestrians, of course.
The really bad intersection is south, two blocks away on Elm and Seventh. Folks often wait in the middle of the street on Seventh, a few feet away from the Elm St. corner, to turn left at the Elm St. Pharmacy pickup window. With so many pedestrians by the front hospital rehab facility, hospital workers, and out-of-towners trying to figure out which building they need to visit, etc., it is a wonder that no one has been seriously injured in car or on foot!
I spoke with a supervisor at the pharmacy about cars blocking traffic while trying to turn left into the drive thru window. They put out a sign to remind drivers to not do that, and it HAS gotten better, but they don’t put the sign out everyday unfortunately and I still encounter cars blocking the road.
There are a lot of intersections in Montieth that need a pedestrian crossing path or more stop signs. Some streets have natural stops in their flow, but without a sign.
I’m glad people think those stop signs are going to do something. It’s crazy just a couple of complaints and those get put in but we’ve been complaining about how about our streets are to just drive on citywide and get nothing. Granted now elm Street will be updated but what about the rest? I’d take less stop signs for less potholes
I live a few blocks away at 8th and Elm, and have had several close calls over the years at this intersection. People cut the corner and swerve into my lane. I have been amazed there are not more accidents there. I’m not thrilled about having to stop more often but since people won’t stay in their own lane this seems like the only remedy.