Greenwich To Further Examine How To Solve Tricky Cos Cob Intersection
GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich will look at temporary solutions like enhancing existing signage to increase safety at a tricky Cos Cob intersection while longer-term fixes are explored further.
Since August, the Board of Selectmen has been examining ways to increase safety at the off-set intersection of Valley Road, River Road Extension and Scofield Street.
An all-way stop is being proposed by the Department of Public Works. Two stop signs would be added to Valley Road, and the stop sign on River Road Extension would be moved up to enhance sightlines. The stop sign on Scofield Street would remain.
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Additionally, 250 feet before each new stop sign on Valley Road, there would be warning signs for drivers.
However, several residents have spoken out against the plan, saying it takes away a few valuable parking spaces for businesses and would increase traffic in the area. DPW’s plan includes adding two short-term parking in front of the nearby St. Lawrence Club to help.
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“We’re going to do all we can to save as many spaces as possible but also to address the safety issue and the sightline issue,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said last week during the Board of Selectmen’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Kiselak said last week that DPW is still recommending an all-way stop, and other ideas like adding pedestrian hybrid beacons to the intersection or implementing a three-way stop instead could create more problems and not fully address the issue.
Camillo said he was concerned that during icy conditions, someone coming downhill on Valley Road would have trouble trying to stop at the stop sign.
“If you left that open to do some flashing lights and a three-way stop sign at the other places, could we try something like that?” Camillo asked.
Kiselak explained that the sightlines are poor when trying to make a turn from River Road Extension onto Valley Road. Camillo then asked if something could be done now to improve the sightlines, and Kiselak said there were utilities and private vegetation in the way.
According to Greenwich DPW, there have been at least 21 crashes in the area since 2016, with nine occurring since 2021. Of those nine, four have involved bicycles and pedestrians, DPW said in August. There was also a pedestrian fatality in 1997.
“We’re taking it seriously. We will get something done, but in the meantime, I don’t think we’re ready to vote today on something as we’re looking at other possible alternatives, but is there something we can do in the meantime with some flashing lights? Is there something we can do temporally?” Camillo asked. “I don’t want to keep pushing this off and have somebody get killed, and people say, ‘You did this all for two parking spaces?'”
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Kiselak said DPW can look at enhancing the signage that’s already at the intersection with LED lights that utilize solar panels.
“That’s not something we have in town now. It’s something that would be a first for us,” Kiselak said. “We can see if people like them and respond to them.”
Camillo said a longer-term solution will ultimately be reached.
“I just want to make sure we’re as thorough as we can be,” Camillo said. “If we can get some signage up there temporarily to enhance it, that would be terrific.”
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