I have been writing about my concerns regarding the intersection at Jericho Turnpike and Glen Cove Road, the difficulty of exiting traffic from the Northern Parkway westbound turning left onto Jericho west and no means provided for going south on Glen Cove Road.
I have voiced various considerations and now have determined that the intersection should remain as it is and that all of the lights should continue to function as they presently do.
Only a new traffic light(s) should be added stretching across Glen Cove Road at the said exit. The new north and southbound light(s) would be normally green and the exit light would be normally red.
The new light(s) would function as follows: Being that the green arrow for turning left onto Jericho west stays green 15 seconds, then yellow two seconds before again turning red, four seconds before the arrow goes green, the new north and southbound light(s) across Glen Cove Road would go yellow. At the moment the arrow turns green, the new north and southbound light(s) would go red and the exit light would go green.
Vehicles would begin turning left onto Jericho which would leave spaces for vehicles exiting the parkway to enter the left turn lane and the opportunity exiting vehicles to cross Glen Cove Road and turn south.
After five seconds, the exit light would turn yellow and after four more seconds would turn red. At this moment, the new north and southbound light(s) would again turn green. The green arrow would continue to be green another six seconds and then yellow two seconds. As with many intersections, depending on the time of day, all turning vehicles don’t always make it on one arrow and this case would not be a lone exception.
I have nothing more to say about this at this time. Here is another widespread issue and where I consider the motorists to be at fault.
A number of years ago I went to Deer Park at various times during the week. I quickly learned not to go too late in the afternoon and be stuck in traffic. Here is a particular example of this kind of situation and the cause.
Crossing into Suffolk County eastbound on the L.I.E., it is downgrade. The lowest point is passing under Walt Whitman Road.
From that point it is a gradual upgrade to the Dix Hills area. Depending on the volume of traffic, to accommodate the volume, X number of vehicles have to pass a point Y in Z seconds.
There are three lanes plus the HOV, which should be sufficient. Not realizing the upgrade, the speed of the traffic drops and the road becomes jammed and unfunctional. Like it or not, it is the duty of all the motorists including the usual slowpokes to be sure to be driving the speed limit (55 mph) and except during bad weather, this and traffic jams in other like places could be avoided. In reality, the minimum speed in these cases is also 55 mph.
I-495 is a federal road and I once wrote to the AAA and suggested that signs should be erected stating “upgrade, maintain speed.” Maybe it hit them as ARRG, we only want to go golfing, floging (get it?) the ball and nothing was done. That, however, does not relieve motorists of their duty. Everyone depends on it.
Charles Samek
Mineola
