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Traffic measures to curb fire-station blockage
(by Mike Klimko - October 15, 2008)
Traffic measures to curb fire-station blockage
By MIKE KLIMKO
Steps are planned to improve the safety and the flow of traffic in the area of the driveway of the new fire station on Bainbridge Road, according to a report to City Council's safety and public properties committee.
The station is at the southwest corner of Bainbridge and SOM Center (Route 91) roads.
The use of a yellow caution light on Bainbridge Road plus the addition of pavement markings and warning signs are viable options, city traffic engineer Kevin Westbrooks said. The safety measures are the result of a meeting convened by the traffic task force that examined the issue of blocked drives at the fire station, he said.
"The traffic signal, which currently stays green for traffic on Bainbridge Road, unless it is actuated by the pre-emption push button in the fire station, will be changed to flash yellow for Bainbridge Road and red for the fire station drive." The fire department retained the use of the pre-emptive button and would be able to switch to a green signal for the station and to a red signal on Bainbridge Road, Mr. Westbrooks said.
The city can further protect the drive on Bainbridge Road from eastbound and westbound traffic with the use of pavement markings across the entire width of the street, he said. "The pavement markings will consist of a wide, white line across both lanes, white transverse lines and a large 'fire drive' facing each direction," Mr. Westbrooks said.
"This will bring attention to the location of the drive and give drivers notice of potential emergency vehicles entering the roadway."
Additional eastbound and westbound signs also would be effective to alert motorists to the presence of the fire station, he said. "The signs would be standard, yellow diamond-shaped signs with a picture of a firetruck but will have blinking lights around the edge of the sign," Mr. Westbrooks said. "Below the blinking sign, a standard 'Do Not Block Drive' sign with black text on a white background will be installed."
Existing signs and signals in the area of the fire station very likely are confusing for motorists who have blocked the exit during rush hour, Police Chief Wayne E. Godzich said.
Solar-powered blinking lights near the fire station in Bainbridge Township on Chillicothe Road (Route 306) are very bright and very visible in the middle of the day, Mr. Godzich said.
Police monitored the traffic in the area of the new fire station in Solon and concluded that pavement markings would help prevent traffic from blocking the drive, he said.
A coordination of the signals on SOM Center Road (Route 91) at Bainbridge Road and at Aurora Road (Route 43) would help draw traffic away from the drives at the fire station, according to city officials.
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