Hello:
1. Sunday, Sept.17, facing E on New Gorham Road, in the Right Turn Lane,
to turn into WCD, at
1:00PM, 2 people were waiting for the White Walking Pedestrian symbol to
appear along with the Audible Tone, counting the seconds down, so they
could walk across WCD on the Marked Crosswalk, while, at the same time, a
man walking a bicycle, facing towards me from the opposite side of the
Marked Crosswalk, was also waiting for the same White Walking Pedestrian
symbol to appear along with the Audible Tone counting down the Seconds, so
he could walk across WCD facing traffic on the Marked Crosswalk.
When the White Walking Figure appeared with the Audible Tone,
The straight thru and the Right Turn Lanes Signal became GREEN for the East
bound traffic, on my side.
I waited while the two people turned to their Left and looked back at me,
before starting to walk across WCD in the Crosswalk . The man on the
opposite side walking his bicycle also hestitated before walking across
the Crosswalk towards my Right side and the sidewalk.
Someone on our committee told me Saturday at the Kids Safety Day, the same
scenario happened to them at another Intersection in Westbrook with Right
Lane Turning Traffic receiving a GREEN Light, at the same time the White
Walking Pedestrian Symbol appeared on the Crosswalk Pedestal across the
street facing them. Apparently, there are concerns about this and the
absence of a Warning to Pedestrians ?
2. Late Sunday afternoon, facing Main Street at Mechanic Street, waiting
to turn R. onto Main Street, to them then L, into the New Bridge Street
Bridge, a young Gentleman pulling a 4 wheeled Red Wagon, with his very
young Daughter seated in the Wagon, was on the far Right side, just beyond
the new
Metro Bus Kiosk on Mechanic Street in front of Hub Furniture.
The Right Side of Mechanic Street facing Main Street, Does NOT have ANY
Crosswalk going across Main Street.
The head of Mechanic Street does have a marked Crosswalk, over to the
Chinese Restaurant and sidewalk. Then, there IS a Marked Crosswalk from
there across Main Street.
But, the MAN pulling the red wagon with the little girl seated in the
wagon, waited for a gap both ways in Main Street traffic, then walked
across Main Street, and onto the grass of Saccarappa Park. In my view,
Right Lane , Right Turning Traffic from Mechanic onto Main Street better be
watching for Pedestrians crossing Main Street and the Pedestrian needs to
watch for Traffic from 3 Directions: both lanes of Main and Right Turning
from Mechanic.
I think the man is leery of crossing from R to L at the head of Mechanic
Street using the Marked Crosswalk, because of past scary experiences of
inpatient motorists on Main Street heading West, backing up in traffic
unable to turn Left to Mechanic Street and when there is a gap, rubber is
flying across the crosswalk. With the Blocking of Saco Street access from
Main Street, Mechanic Street, with its new Traffic Control Signals at WCD,
has become the connecting intersection from Main Street across WCD, to the
uphill neighborhoods and access to upper Saco Street.
Dennis Marrotte
