The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com.
Question:
Dear Mayor Coles:
Thank you for taking your time to address to answer questions of our Lakewood Comminuty.
I live down Central Ave, a little past Sunset Area. There is a question that many residents of this neighboor have.
Traffic (I know they are making a study) east, toward Rt 9 is very heavy. Why are there shoulder lanes (on both sides of Central Ave) ? The turning right to Rt 9 is the cause of traffic and cars going straight can use this ‘shoulder’ and avoid sitting in the turning lane.
Thanks,
Mark
Response from Mayor Coles:
Thanks Mark
This is one of the County Roads we hear most about. We are speaking with the county about widening or extending the turn lanes.
Ray
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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to AskTheMayor@thelakewoodscoop.com
Does that mean that it will b almost impossible to make a left from any of the side streets like lappsly, caranetta, mertal, kimbol…?
That would be disaster!
Cars coming from the end of Caraneta (close to Rt 9) trying to cross 2 lanes and make a left turn in Rt 9 are a major cause of traffic in rush hour.
The entrance to Caranetta from Central (closer to Route 9) should be a one way street going south and west until Freedman. That would solve the problem of cars coming out of Caranetta and trying to cross 2 lanes on Central to make a left turn on Route 0.
Dealing with the heavy traffic on Central Ave. now, is just another example of closing the barn door after the cows have escaped. This is how Lakewood deals with city planning, instead of dealing with these issues earlier to prevent problems. I live in this area for over 30 years. After West Gate was first built, lo and behold, we had to deal with water pressure in West Gate and surrounding areas (surprise!) and of course, surprise, heavy traffic on Central Ave. Again, Lakewood was reactive instead of proactive and replaced the underground water pipes years later to alleviate the water problems. They also dealt with the traffic by creating the turning lane and making the green light last longer. That really helped except that they keep making the same mistakes. The overbuilding with no prior planning continues in the area, & all over, and the traffic problems have increased again. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That is how Lakewood works.
My comment is awaiting moderation…..
Mr mayor
I was almost a victim of a head on collision. And I’m not referring to just the edge of my car but completely head on.
What happened was is that a car decided that he was in the turning lane about 4 blocks before rt 9 on Central Ave.
Enough is enough. (moderated)
Hurley should have a right turn only & the second lane we have at the beg of Central eliminated. There should be 2 turning lanes onto rt 9 (there is need for left turns onto Hurley from rt 9)