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Fire-station blockers could get clipped
(by Mike Klimko - September 03, 2008)
Fire-station blockers could get clipped
By MIKE KLIMKO
The afternoon rush hour continues to plague the center of town in Solon, despite repeated attempts by City Council and safety officials to pave a clear path for operation of the new fire station.
Stationing a police officer in the area of Bainbridge and SOM Center (Route 91) roads could assure the exit of fire engines and ambulances from Station No. 2, Councilman John T. Scott said. He said he would leave the matter to Police Chief Wayne E. Godzich.
The assignment would place an officer in a dangerous position, Mr. Godzich said during discussion of the matter by council's safety and public properties committee.
Construction of a connector road between the Route 422 freeway interchange and Aurora Road (Route 43), as part of the proposed Central Park project, would ease the flow of traffic on SOM Center Road, Mr. Scott said.
In considering replacement of the old fire station and a possible retail plaza at the southwest corner of SOM Center and Bainbridge roads in 2005, two other sites to the west were discussed by City Council. Ultimately, council opted to retain the site for the fire station, instead of selling the 1.56 acres to Solon developer John R. McGill.
Traffic on Bainbridge Road at rush hour also loomed over the alternate locations for the fire station, including land to the west of the Walgreens drugstore at the northwest corner.
"We may have to take some extreme measures to improve the situation," Mr. Scott said of the gridlock that can form near the fire station. "If we put up signs to clear the intersection, and people block them, they should get a ticket."
Temporary signals are in place to keep vehicles away from the drive to the fire station on Bainbridge Road in emergencies.
Enforcement at the intersection might contribute to the problem, Mr. Godzich said.
"It's been an issue for years. and nothing has been done about it," Mr. Scott said of the situation at the intersection. "The gridlock starts there and backs up to the freeway. If the light is not timed exactly right, it backs up. If an emergency vehicle trips the signal at Aurora and SOM, there can be an extra minute or two," he said.
"A lot of what happens will depend on Central Park. If Central Park goes through and we have a connector road, a great deal of that is moved off SOM. Even if the fire station had been moved, the fire department would still have had to get through Bainbridge and SOM," Mr. Scott said.
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