Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

by-pass-road-hazards-Lydem

Full Text:

Some Local Roads Throw Drivers A Curve

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

It may not be the most treacherous stretch of road in town, but the new bypass

road through Fairfield Hills certainly has its share of sharp bends.

The curves have not gone unnoticed by Lt David Lydem of the Newtown Police

Department, who questions why the state Department of Transportation was not

able to make the road straighter.

"It's a question that's been in my mind for some time," Lt Lydem said. "It

seems odd to me. I don't know why they didn't make that straight, especially

since it is state owned property all along there."

Lt Lydem, the head of the department's field services unit, said it is still

too early to tell whether that section of roadway can be considered dangerous

since there have not yet been any accidents there.

Engineer Steve Martinson of the DOT said the bypass road meets all the

guidelines and meets all the requirements. He did not consider that to be a

major concern although he admitted he might have made the road straighter had

it not been for nearby wetland areas and concerns raised by the nearby

Pootatuck Fish & Game Club.

"Yes, it is curvy, but the curves should be sufficient for the design speed

limit for the road," said Mr Martinson, who was asked to design the bypass

close to its previous alignment.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal was at the bypass road Tuesday to meet with DOT

officials about the project. The road is nearing completion and Mr Rosenthal

said he is impressed with the work so far.

"I think they've done a nice job," he said, pointing out that the bypass

should divert much of the car volume away from the center of town.

The first selectman said there are still several signs missing from the bypass

road, including a "lane ends" sign at the top of the bypass road. The two-lane

road abruptly turns into one lane without any warning.

Other Hazardous Roads

While on the topic of hazardous stretches of road in Newtown, Church Hill Road

is the first to come to mind for Lt Lydem.

"I wouldn't call it dangerous, but it is certainly a problem," he said.

"There's so much stop and go, especially from Queen Street down to Exit 10."

There are similar problems on Route 25 where cars are constantly trying to

turn off into businesses. There simply is not enough lane space to allow for

smooth passage.

The speed limit for one stretch of Route 25 in 45 miles per hour. Too fast? Lt

Lydem can't say for sure, but one thing is certain, cars rarely reach that

speed as they are constantly slowed by traffic.

More than 20 years ago, Route 25 was considered even deadlier thanks to what

was known as "dead man's curve." The curve was just north of what is now Sand

Hill Plaza and was responsible for the deaths of numerous motorists. The road

was straightened in that area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Newtown is a crossroads for travelers heading north, south, east and west, and

that flow of traffic has been compounded by the town's own rapid growth. The

volume of cars has reached an all-time high.

"For the last 10-15 years, the traffic in Newtown has been unbelievable," Lt

Lydem said.

The good news, however, is that while the number of accidents is on the rise,

the number of serious injuries is on the decline. The increase in seat-belt

use and the improved design of cars has been a major factor, Lt Lydem said.

Of course, Route 34 has its dangerous spots, especially for large trucks

trying to negotiate the sharp turns on the busy road.

Lt Lydem pointed to a handful of other dangerous stretches of road, including

the intersections of Route 34 and Pole Bridge Road, Route 25 and Currituck

Road, Currituck Road and Parmalee Hill Road. The list goes on.

Lt Lydem said the statistics don't necessarily bear out which roads are

dangerous. In fact, there are not always more accidents in those areas, simply

because people are aware of the dangers associated with those roads and tend

to take more precautions.