Cannon: More strangulation on Sussex roads

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Lately, my attention has been drawn to three additional local examples of unnecessary traffic strangulation by the Delaware Department of Transportation’s all-way stop controls, along with one at least semi-reasonable AWSC installation.

Traffic is now unnecessarily impeded by these stops near Seaford at the Atlanta Road/Ross Station Road intersection and at two spots along Alternate U.S. 13 (between Blades and Laurel).

In the first instance, I was/am struck by the (at least) 800-foot unrestricted viewing in any direction when approaching the Atlanta/Ross Station “T” intersection. It is virtually impossible to imagine drivers not seeing each other when approaching this intersection; it’s also hard to imagine the Atlanta traffic being responsible for accidents/incidents. Absent convincing data to the contrary, it must be heedless/careless Ross Station traffic turning onto Atlanta that is responsible for the vast majority of problems.

Yet, to the best of my knowledge, the Transportation Department did not attempt to lessen and/or solve these problems by:

  1. Creating and enforcing a 200-300-yard lower speed zone (50 mph down to 35 mph) on Atlanta, around the intersection, to help Ross Station traffic turn onto Atlanta more safely.
  2. Adding a right-turn lane to Ross Station, contiguous with a long merge lane for turns north on Atlanta, to promote flow and safety.
  3. Installing serious speed bumps to really slow Ross Station traffic.
  4. Installing flashing red lights and enforcement cameras on Ross Station.

If, and only if, these sequential measures had not been successful should an all-way stop control have been implemented at this intersection.

Frankly, the reasons for installation of two of these stops along Alternate U.S. 13 between Seaford and Laurel are simply baffling! Both are dinky intersections. It is just hard to imagine the volume of traffic and/or serious incidents necessitating AWSCs, particularly without attempts at other remediation (as above). These stops seem to be more cheap, overkill solutions to relatively minor problems.

A possible exception to my overall concern about willy-nilly placement of such measures is the intersection of Atlanta and Federalsburg/Bridgeville Highway. In my mind, key elements to this exception are that both byways have substantial traffic, some traffic moves well above the posted speed limits, and there are some impeded sightlines. But, once again, no serious speed bumps or flashing red lights with enforcement cameras were tried on Atlanta. Nevertheless, there would appear to be at least semi-understandable justification for an AWSC at this location.

So, there are instances for reasonable and understandable use of these stops, but the current, ongoing virtual cascade of them by the Department of Transportation is ridiculous.

Or, as one local put it, “Please, let’s stop issuing four-way stops (AWSCs) like Santa giving out candy canes.”

Dan Cannon

Seaford

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.

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