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Editorial
DOT must communicate closings better to public
Transportation hassles are commonplace with road reconstruction. Work along Harlem Road is kicking into high gear, and traffic delays, especially during commuter hours, are becoming routine. In most situations the driver learns to adapt, especially when he can plan ahead. For months, drivers knew what to expect with construction along Union Road, Walden Avenue and Genesee Street. Today, they are learning to adjust for Harlem construction. In fact, Cleveland Hill firefighters took an alternate route to a first aid call in Cedargrove Heights on Wednesday.
However, there is one aspect of Harlem construction that needs to improve. During the past two weeks Maryvale Drive has occasionally been closed to eastbound traffic between Pine Ridge and Harlem roads. The most recent occurrence was on Tuesday. Unfortunately, there was no warning to Pine Ridge Road travelers, who essentially found themselves stuck at a "dead end" with the right turn to Maryvale closed. (To the left is a Kensington Expressway exit, and straight ahead is Mount Calvary Cemetery.)
It is reasonable to expect a local street may be temporarily closed from time to time to accommodate a much-needed highway project such as that taking place along Harlem Road. However, closing a busy road without providing drivers an option is dangerous. One person told the Times that she watched with intrigue on Tuesday as the driver of a tractor trailer attempted to turn around after finding Maryvale closed at Pine Ridge.
At the least, the New York State Department of Transportation should place a sign advising drivers that Maryvale is closed on Pine Ridge at Sugar Road. This would provide drivers the option to head to Eggert Road for their next move.
A spokesperson from the DOT said that the failure to post signs along Pine Ridge was an oversight. The situation was rectified later Tuesday when the project's engineers were informed of the blunder. We're told that there will be no additional complete shutdowns of Maryvale Drive.
Drivers can easily adapt to road construction when they are aware of the situation. But sending them to a virtual dead-end street is unacceptable. We're encouraged that the DOT has addressed this situation but disappointed that it happened in the first place.
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