Many have found Watchung Avenue/Watchung Plaza intersection in confusing and dangerous, but not the “experts.”
From the Montclair Times…
…the county government requested Jeff Shepard, project engineer of the RBA Group, Engineers and Designers, perform an in-depth pedestrian safety report of the area, which was finalized this past September.
RBA Group provided the county with a variety of recommendations and stated that, “Although this intersection is heavily used by pedestrians and traffic, pedestrian safety was observed to be adequate. From our observations, vehicles traveling along Watchung Avenue yielded to pedestrians when they entered the crosswalk.The firm also noted, “A letter from the Montclair Police Department stated that there have not been any pedestrian-related accidents at this intersection in the last three years, from August 2004 to August 2007.
How do you factor in near misses?
“How do you factor in near misses?”
A well timed push when she’s looking both ways.
Pedestrians in that neighborhood have learned to cross that hell FAST.
I lived in that area for 7 years and actually got clipped once – by a police cruiser!
Being an ex New Yorker I am a huge pedestrian supporter, however, being a driving New Jerseyite now, Watchung Plaza totally stresses me out! It’s a ridiculously set up intersection where people that have supposedly been driving for years don’t know what the ?#%!? “right of way!!!” means and why should anyone make a FULL stop at Park street if they see their opportunity to push ahead. I now refuse to make the left hand turn out of Watchung Plaza for fear of someone smashing into my car! I’ve had some very scary near misses and I’ve only lived here a few years!
I don’t understand why this intersection has not been addressed as a MAJOR driving(and walking) issue before!
I commute through the plaza daily. The number of near misses is amazing. Cars rolling through the (one!) stop sign. And the use of celphones while driving, too. The fact that the pedestrian crossing sign is routinely run over should say something, but it doesn’t. Unfortunately, the only thing that will “help” will be when someone getting seriously hurt. Maybe, with all the kids hanging there in the evenings, this is inevitable.
I don’t have a problem with the Plaza outside of those ridiculous sidewalks they put in a few years ago that jut out into the street and are supposed to slow everyone down.
My only problem interection is the No/So Fullerton/Church Street/Bloomfield Ave/ debacle.