Police Commission members this week again considered two traffic issues that have been under continuing review: the accident hazards posed by the five-legged Main Street flagpole intersection, and public safety problems created by speeding motorists traveling on the residential Pearl Street in Sandy Hook. The commission is the local traffic authority.

Resident Richard Baker of Hyvue Road presented some drawings to commission members on August 2, suggesting certain signage that could be installed in the vicinity of the flagpole intersection to warn motorists of its presence.

The intersection where Main Street, Church Hill Road, and West Street meet has the second highest local accident rate. The 100-foot-tall flagpole without barriers or buffers stands in the center of that busy intersection. From 2012 through 2014 inclusive, there were 55 collisions at the intersection, according to police. A majority of those accidents involved vehicles colliding with one another, and the other crashes involved vehicles driving into the steel flagpole.

Traffic signs posted in the area warning drivers of the flagpole intersection's presence could deter motorists from speeding in the area, Mr Baker said.

Also, Mr Baker stressed that motorists traveling at the flagpole need to "go right," and travel around the structure, not cut in front of it, when making left turns there.

Police Commission Chairman Joel Faxon told Mr Baker that the commission has a standing subcommittee that focuses on flagpole intersection issues. The commission has provided accident statistics to the state Department of Transportation (DOT) on the motor vehicle accident history at the intersection, he said. The commission is working with the DOT in seeking solutions to the traffic problems posed by the intersection, which is under DOT jurisdiction because Main Street and Church Hill Road are state roads.

Mr Baker again urged the installation of appropriate signage intended to have motorists reduce their speed when approaching the flagpole.

In 2015, the Police Commission had a traffic study performed on the flagpole intersection in seeking to learn what measures could improve traffic safety there. A traffic consulting firm recommended a range of changes.

In that report, Frederick P. Clark Associates, Inc, of Fairfield recommended installing traffic signals, altering the geometry of the junction, and modifying some traffic flow patterns.

Police Commission members have opted to pursue making various incremental changes at the intersection, rather than major modifications.

Pearl Street

Herman Valentin of Pearl Street asked commission members about the status of an ongoing study of traffic flow on that residential street, which links Washington Avenue to Philo Curtis Road. Some motorists use that street as an alternate route on weekdays to avoid the heavy traffic congestion that occurs during the morning and evening rush periods on the nearby Berkshire Road.

Police Captain Joe Rios explained that police are compiling data from their studies of Pearl Street.

Mr Valentin questioned the accuracy of some data that was collected in past traffic studies of the street.

After all necessary traffic data is compiled, Mr Faxon said, a decision will be made on how best to resolve the speeding problem.

Some Pearl Street area residents have been pushing for the installation of speed tables there, similar to those that have been installed on Queen Street and on Key Rock Road.

Besides conducting traffic studies at Pearl Street, police have heightened their enforcement there through radar patrols and have had electronic displays posted there to inform motorists of their travel speed compared to the posted speed limit on the 3,600-foot-long curvy, hilly road.

In the past, the Police Commission has reviewed extensive data on speeding problems in a given area before deciding whether installing speed tables is actually the best solution to resolve a speeding problem.