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Car hits guardrail; man dies
(by Sue Reid - November 23, 2011)
Car hits guardrail; man dies
By SUE REID
Solon's traffic engineer is to prepare an initial letter to the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding safety issues raised about the new guardrail installed on the Route 422 freeway through the city.
The letter is to be reviewed by City Council and Mayor Susan A. Drucker.
At a recent meeting, Councilwoman Toni M. Richmond asked that the city clerk draft a letter be sent to ODOT, as well as the governor's office, to either modify the way the guardrails are installed or remove them entirely. She concurs with complaints raised from residents, she said, over the fact that the offset of the guardrail from the edge of the highway does not allow enough room to pull over and be completely of the road.
Ms. Richmond said she would like the clerk to draft the letter soon, because winter weather is approaching.
But during City Council's safety and public properties committee meeting last week, Councilwoman William I. Russo said the letter should be done by Traffic Engineer Kevin Westbrooks, who routinely deals with ODOT.
"I feel extremely uncomfortable putting that task on the clerk," Mr. Russo said. "I want to make sure the letter is drafted in a professional, cooperative manner asking that this be reviewed."
Councilman Richard A. Bell said the letter should be something considered by all of City Council.
Ms. Richmond said she does not object to Mr. Westbrooks reviewing the letter, "but if it's something I'm going to sign, I want it to come from the clerk and the mayor's office."
During the safety meeting, Mr. Russo asked the police and fire chiefs if they are comfortable with the design of the guardails, even though it was not the one the city requested. The city initially asked for a cable rail, but, after ODOT's review, it was determined that a guardrail would be more appropriate.
"Would it be in our best interest to ask ODOT to remove them?" Mr. Russo asked.
Police Chief Christopher P. Viland said, "I'm not comfortable making assumptions until we see what is going to happen in the coming months in the winter."
Fire Chief William J. Shaw agreed. "We don't have enough data to look at," he said. "We should monitor this. Until then, we can't say if the guardrails are good, bad or indifferent."
Mr. Russo asked Mr. Westbrooks if, in his experience with ODOT, he has ever had the state agency go back and take out a project that it installed. The guardrails were installed by ODOT at a cost of $1 million.
Mr. Westbrooks said no. He said ODOT would most likely not remove the guardrail but perhaps monitor it, as the city has suggested.
"If we were going to object, we should have done that well in effect of completing the project," Mr. Russo said.
Mr. Westbrooks said he's concerned about demanding that ODOT take them down. "You don't want to anger someone who dishes out millions in road projects in the future," he said.
Mr. Russo asked what projects are slated in the city with ODOT in the future.
Mr. Westbrooks pointed to the citywide traffic signal upgrade project slated for next year at a cost of more than $7 million.
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