Date: Fri 21-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

traffic-Key-Rock-Road

Full Text:

Key Rock Road Residents Ask For Restrictions On Trucks

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Key Rock Road residents have asked the town to restrict all trucks from

traveling on their winding, sometimes treacherous street.

In a letter to Police Chief James Lysaght, residents stated that a decreased

number of trucks would likely cut down on accidents. The street, which is less

than a mile long, is very dangerous, they said, pointing to three "very sharp"

back-to-back turns which all bank in opposite directions and are on hills. The

road is also quite narrow in some areas.

"I feel this clearly illustrates the hazardous, high risk, physical make-up of

the street," explained Paul Larsen of 25 Key Rock Road.

The letter was accompanied by a petition signed by 28 residents.

Key Rock Road, a connector between Route 302 and Hattertown Road, is not a

typical residential street. Cars and trucks traverse at all hours, especially

during commuting hours. Residents refer to it as a "cut through" road for

drivers making their way to Poverty Hollow and points further south.

The posted speed limit for Key Rock Road is 25 miles per hour, but residents

say many vehicles, including trucks, are traveling at 40-50 mph. Numerous

accidents have taken place on the road in recent years.

The selectmen are expected to refer the issue to the Police Commission, which

is the traffic authority for the town. The Police Commission would then need

to make a recommendation to the Legislative Council, the body responsible for

writing town ordinances.

Currently, the only other road in Newtown where trucks are restricted is Mile

Hill Road South.