Road Construction along Putnam Blvd:
As you may have noticed,
there is road construction on Putnam Blvd at the clubhouse/swimming pool
area. That construction is the result of
an ongoing discussion with our Township Commissioner Robert O’Connor, Township
Manager Dave Grady, Chief of Police David Splain and representatives from the
Danbury Council, Saybrook Council, Weston Council and our Putnam Council.
Background:
As a resident that lives in a
building that is directly alongside Putnam Blvd, I have continued to see
speeding traffic along Putnam Blvd and people not even slowing down for the
stop sign at Putnam Blvd and Saybrook Lane.
While the police occasionally monitor that intersection, they generally
have more important issues to deal with.
During conversations about
this issue with our Township Commissioner Robert O’Connor and how we might be
able to reduce the danger that speeding cars present, Robert suggested that I
take a look at what the Township has done in another neighborhood with a
similar problem. He suggested that I look at two “speed humps” that were
installed on Meadow Lane alongside the Wallingford Swim and Racquet Club. When I did that, I was impressed with their
effectiveness in slowing the traffic down and presented the idea to our Council. We agreed to pursue the issue.
Just so that everyone
understands what we are talking about. “Speed
Humps” are different than “Speed Bumps.”
A speed bump is a very short bump that makes cars slow down to around 5
mph to safely go over them. A speed hump
is about the same height as a speed bump but it is extended over 10 to 15 feet
so that it is a very gradual hump and can be safely negotiated at around 15
mph. So, a “bump” almost makes the
driver stop while a “hump” just causes the driver to slow down. And a problem that a bump creates is an issue
with snow plowing whereas a hump, because of its gradual rise, allows a snow
plow to pass right over it.
The Township wanted to know
what other communities along Putnam Blvd thought about installing speed
humps. Our CAMCO property manager
contacted Danbury, Saybrook and Weston Councils and the only dissention came
from Weston’s Council who was not in favor of the proposal.
The Current Plan:
Recently the Township Commissioners
voted to approve the proposed installation and they agreed to install three
speed humps along Putnam Blvd between Moore Road and the stop sign on Putnam
Blvd. The one that is being worked on right
now is at the Clubhouse/Pool area. It
will be a combination “raised walkway” and speed hump to increase the safety of
residents crossing the street to get to the pool. There will be two additional speed humps
installed along the straight section of Putnam Blvd between Moore Road and the
Clubhouse/Pool area.
It is our hope that these
installations will reduce the risk that speeding cars present to other drivers
and pedestrians. And that it will also discourage
drivers from using Putnam Blvd as a short cut around the stop light at Moore
Road and Brookhaven Road.
And I’d like to personally
thank Commissioner Robert O’Connor for his ongoing efforts to move these safety
issues forward.
Walter Antkiewicz
President, Putnam Village Council