Four-Way Stop Approved For Maltbie Road

By Andrew Gorosko

In response to Maltbie Road area residents’ concerns that the four-way intersection of Maltbie Road and Castle Meadow Road is hazardous and poses serious public safety concerns, the Police Commission has decided to upgrade the intersection from a two-way stop to a four-way stop.

Until now, the intersection has had stop signs posted at Maltbie Road’s two entrances to Castle Meadow Road. The intersection will now have stop signs posted at all four entrances to stop all traffic before it enters the intersection.

The Police Commission action came Wednesday night after a contingent of Maltbie Road residents expressed their concerns at a commission meeting. Police Commission members received a petition bearing the names of 43 Maltbie Road area residents calling for increased traffic safety at the intersection. Maltbie Road intersects with Castle Meadow Road near Hattertown Pond, just north of the Monroe border.

Motorists’ sight lines at the intersection are very poor due to road grades and side hills, requiring that safety be improved, resident Ray Ruzek of 17 Maltbie Road told Police Commission members. A nearby narrow bridge on Castle Meadow Road compounds traffic hazards, he said. As new homes have been built in the area, traffic has increased, posing added safety hazards, he said.

“We would like to do something before we have serious accidents,” Mr Ruzek said, noting he had two “close calls” at the intersection one day last August, impressing upon him the need for action. “Let’s be pro-active,” he said.

Other Maltbie Road residents at the meeting underscored Mr Ruzek’s concerns.

Police Captain Michael Kehoe said police are awaiting information from the town engineer on how motorist sight lines can be improved at the intersection.

Commission member William Meyer then moved to create a four-way stop at the intersection, a motion which commission members unanimously approved.  Member Charles Pilchard urged that the four-way stop be installed quickly.

Commission members agreed to re-evaluate having a four-way stop at the intersection if and when sight line improvements are later made there.