A Burning Tanker, A Broken Bridge, & Paving––

Traffic Headaches Stem From Host Of Problems

By Andrew Gorosko

If it seemed like Newtown’s traffic was in a tighter snarl than usual this week, you’re not imagining it.

A series of major motor vehicle accidents, a repaving project, and the general commotion caused by the recent restructuring of school bus routes and school starting times have combined to create traffic woes such as police have not seen in a long time.

Just after 2 am on Saturday, September 27, a tractor-trailer tanker truck carrying more than 8,000 gallons of gasoline collided head-on with a sport-utility vehicle near 83 South Main Street, causing a huge fire, heavy damage, and many traffic problems.

That heavily-traveled section of South Main Street was closed to through-traffic for 20 hours, after which alternating one-way traffic was reestablished. It took 42 hours to get two-way traffic traveling again in that area. To get around the destruction, police diverted motorists to a detour consisting of Wasserman Way, Mile Hill Road South, Turkey Hill Road, and Pecks Lane. The narrow detour roads soon became congested.

About 6 pm on Saturday, September 27, a motorist traveling on Route 34 near Zoar Road, left the pavement and collided with a utility pole. The ensuing utility outage closed a long section of heavily traveled Route 34 to through-traffic for more than six hours. The accident resulted in motorists snaking along side roads adjacent to Route 34 in the nighttime. Some of those roads are under reconstruction.

Just after 1 pm on Tuesday, September 30, a trucker hauling a piece of heavy construction equipment smashed into the low-clearance railroad bridge above Botsford Hill Road in Botsford. Damage to that bridge and the fear that fragments of concrete bridge decking would fall down onto passing traffic, resulted in a 21-hour closure of Botsford Hill Road in that area, from 4:30 pm September 30 to 1:30 pm October 1. The bridge reopened after railroad workers inspected it for damage. (See separate story.)

Many motorists use that section of Botsford Hill Road as a link between Route 34 in Sandy Hook and Route 25 in Botsford.

The section of Botsford Hill Road lying between its intersections with Swamp Road and High Bridge Road will be closed from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 4, to allow repairs to be made to the span.

Amid the major accidents that occurred, the state has been repaving the length of Route 34 in Sandy Hook between Pearl Street and the Monroe town line. On Monday, the paving crews were at work near Newtown High School when the school was dismissed at about 2 pm. School dismissal creates heavy traffic in that area.

The recent restructuring of school bus routes and changing of school starting times has caused commotion on local roads, as the general motoring public and commuters adjust to new traffic patterns and traffic volumes, especially during the morning commuting period. Increasing those morning traffic volumes are parent drivers who transport their children to school in private autos, instead of having them ride school buses, town officials say.

Route 34, Toddy Hill Road, and the Exit 11 area of Interstate 84 have proven to be especially difficult areas to navigate in the mornings before classes start at Newtown High School.

Police Lieutenant James Mooney said this week the recent major accidents and other traffic conditions have caused a host of travel delays. Drivers have amply expressed their travel frustrations to police, he noted.

Considering the range of problems that they may face when traveling, the lieutenant urges drivers to plan their travel accordingly.

Lt Mooney adds that the town’s steadily increasing population has resulted in thousands of additional autos traveling on local roads, generally increasing the volume of traffic that drivers will encounter in their daily travels.

The town’s population increased by more than 20 percent between 1990 and 2000, rising to just over 25,000. It is thought that the roughly 9,000 local households have two or more autos each.

There are high volumes present under good conditions, Lt Mooney said. When a string of major accidents occurs, it makes matters even worse, he said.

Of the travel delays, police Lieutenant George Sinko said, “It’s put a strain on our [police] resources and personnel. We’re managing the situation pretty well overall. The officers have done a very good job.”

An expanding local population increases local traffic volumes and the likelihood of travel problems, he said.

Of the recent string of traffic mishaps and related travel delays, Lt Sinko noted, “I’d have to say it’s just coincidence, and we’ve had our share of bad luck.”