Traffic Congestion

On Route 302

To the Editor:

I live on a private one-lane dirt road off Route 302. Unfortunately when traffic gets backed up at the Route 25 intersection, in frustration people start looking for alternate routes to bypass. In the past we have never had trouble with commuters cutting through our residential area, but this past year has seen a tremendous increase of cutting through our road and worse — at a high rate of speed. For example, on one Friday evening, I counted 42 cars in 40 minutes cutting through our private road. The residents of the street drive 10–15 mph down our dirt road but the commuters in their desire to get to their destinations are driving around 35 mph! I fear one of the many children in this previously quiet neighborhood will get hurt by these inconsiderate drivers.

Nettleton Avenue is owned by three residents, and we grant a right of way to each other —it is our driveway! Anyone caught speeding or cutting through our private road is trespassing and it is clearly marked with a “No Trespassing” sign. We appreciate the many people who have honored this as we do not want to resort to our two options of individual legal action or blocking off the road.

If those who are using our road as a cut-thru would take the time to complain to the local authorities to have the main roads improved, this would be a much better solution than having to inconvenience the residents on the road and our neighbors by blocking it off.

As a commuter if you have frustrations with the congestion at the intersection of Route 25 and 302, instead of finding a cut-thru down private or residential roads please call the local offices below to complain. The 302–25 Elm Drive intersection needs to be improved; perhaps by widening the road and adding turn lanes.

I have already contacted the Newtown Police (270-4255), First Selectman Herb Rosenthal (270-4201), Newtown Highway Department (270-4300), the state DOT (797-4157), and the state traffic inspector (860-585-2785) to file complaints with them.

By the way, I would like to thank the police for putting barricades up around the Ram Pasture area during the Tree Lighting Festivities. Several of us on our private road were sharing the evening with family and friends so they had permission for access to our homes. Unfortunately, a few people decided to ignore the police barricades and remove them so they could cut through from Juniper Road to Elm Drive (some didn’t move them and just drove over our lawn!) only to find another barricade at the other end of our road as well as one at each end of Elm Drive! I am appalled that people would move these clearly marked “Police Barricade” for their own convenience and put the many people walking along our quiet, dark dirt road and Elm Drive at risk during a lovely community event.

Respectfully Yours,

Dan Pierce

11 Nettleton Avenue, Newtown                           December 15, 2004