Dear TLS-
I have never been sure where to address this question, and I have noticed that you have achieved responses to similar issues, so perhaps you can direct this to an appropriate party…At the intersection of Hurley Ave and Route 9, while driving west on Hurley, there are 3 lanes, one for left turns only, one going straight and the right line which allows you to go straight or turn right. However, once you cross over Route 9 to Central Ave, the lanes become one after the immediate S. Lake Drive turn. This necessitates an immediate merge at the same time that cars are increasing speed to head uphill on Central Ave.
Anyone who drives through that area regularly can attest to the large number of “brake screeching”- near collision incidents that occur on a daily basis.
The number of cars using that lane to turn off onto South Lake Drive is a very small percentage. I am wondering why the right lane at the above mentioned intersection cannot be designated as a right turn only, thus ensuring that there would only be one lane of traffic heading onto Central Ave.
Thank you.
A reader.
(To submit your Readers’ Scoop, send it in to [email protected])
Most drivers are aware of the merge but do not have the common curtesy to allow each other to merge in an orderly fashion. It’s impossible to design in civilized behavior to prevent people from pushing and shoving to be first and gain that little advantage.
A much larger problem and contributing factor is the fact that that light is very short- perhaps 4-5 cars can pass on each green light. The opposite side (going from central to Hurley) is much longer. If the township would increase the length of that green people would have more time to cross and merge.
Because most people are not turning right on route 9 from Hurley. Most people are going straight so they need two lanes otherwise Hurley would get backed up very fast since it is a small street.
Since when does Central Ave. have a hill over there? What are you – on a bike?!
Not true #2
I travel that way all the time. They have lengthened the light from Hurley also. Double the amount you said can get through easily. I’ll see you there and we’ll make a bet!
I’m driving a white 2010 Dodge Challenger.
MANY OF THE LANE CHANGES THAT WE SEE AROUND TOWN ARE VERY DANGEROUS & TO PUT IT MILDY ARE WAY TOO LITTLE WAY TOO LATE. I DON’T THINK ANY THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE IMPACT THE TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE ON THE DENSITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS ALLOWED. I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY & A MEMBER OF THE ZONING BOARD WHO ALLOWED FOR MUCH OF THIS PROBLEM CAME BARRELING DOWN THE STREET AS IF HE WAS THE ONLY DRIVER ON THE ROAD & HE WAS GESTURING AT ME FROM HIS CAR. WELL SHAME ON YOU!! IT IS WONDERFUL TO LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL IR HATORAH BUT WE KNOW THAT “VINISHMARTO MEOD LINAFSHOSAYCHEM” OVERIDES EVERYTHING & SHOULD BE OUR FIRST CONSIDERATION.
Just stop complaining ! Find something else to talk about and tls pls don’t use this site to let everyone vent ther own nonsense
Not a township road – county and state.
Sean,
I am there daily! Last night I was car #5 and couldn’t make it. I guess a slow starter doesn’t help. Bet is on- meet u there at 10:00 sat night. Meet at the gas station-im driving a station wagon with wood side panels and a bottle of anti freeze in the side window.
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I agree that merge area is tight and dangerous, however there is a MUCH larger problem at that intersection.
What am I referring to?
The impatient drivers who see that the left lane to turn onto route nine is backed up , have no patience, so they go into the middle lane which is shorter and then make a left turn onto route 9 with the light. Not only is this very illegal, but also very dangerous because that is a tight corner and the people who are legitimately turning left are not expecting cars to turn with them from the middle lane.
You know who you are, I see people do this all the time, and they cannot claim they did not know, because they are local yeshivah people who know the intersection very well.
So lets see:
1. Breaking the law
2. Putting everyone’s lives in danger
3. Making a huge chillul hashem
Is that enough to make you stop this practice and wait in line like everyone else? I HOPE SO!!!
The problem you are talking about is further exasperated by rude, impatient drivers who try to “beat” the car next to them before the two lanes change into one. If everyone followed the courteous, expected “alternate merge” practice, meaning, car on the left goes, then car on the right, then car on the left, etc, the merge would be quicker, safer and better for everyone.
To # 5. For the future, please use lower-case letters, as per the comment rules. Thank you.
In response to “interesting point”s comment I do have to say that the light in front of that middle lane does have a left green arrow and some maybe assume that it is a legal turn from that lane as well.
All who worked to lengthen the light by Central & Rt. 9 and Hurley & Rt. 9 – forgot one thing – For every second you increased the light time there, you added to the major traffic on Rt. 9. Seichel says that doing something to minimise a small traffic problem which in turn makes a huge traffic nightmare worse – just makes no sense.
if you make the right lane a right turn only lane, the line of cars waiting to cross the nine to central will get backed up to cedar bridge while the right lane would be empty. there are very few cars.trying to turn from hurley because its usually much easier to make a left on 88 or to go thru clifton if you want to get to the nine going north. But youre right that merge is crazy we just need a better eitzah.
Route 9 should have 2 lanes each way plus turning lanes. I know that there are properties too close to the road to do that, but, this problem should have been foreseen and addressed by the state at least 30 years ago. I have been here longer than that and everyone could see the problems coming, so why didn’t the state planners see it?
Pete & Sean: Gonna have a drag race?
DRIVE DEFENSIVELY—DRIVER IN THE BACK YIELD TO THE DRIVER IN THE FRONT-GET THE BIG PICTURE AND KEEP THE SHIELD OF DEFENCE AND KEEP OFF THE CELL PHONES…
As we all know, most roads in Lakewood were not built to handle this many cars. Therefore, cars getting backed up is no excuse for a merge like that. The right lane should be a right turn only, with one lane going across RT 9. As it is Hurley is not a 2 lane road.
In order to alleviate some congestion on Hurley:
1- The right turn from Cedar Bridge/Clifton onto Hurley should be no turn on red. By doing that you are limiting the amount of cars turning onto Hurley at the same time.
(on a side note, it should be made into no turn on red just because the oncoming traffic has a left turn signal – which makes it dangerous)
2- The traffic lights on Cedar Bidge and RT 9 should be better synchronized to allow the flow of traffic through Hurley onto Central Ave.
Additionally,
Whose bright idea was the remaking of County Line Road from Ardenwood heading eastbound? There has never been traffic in that stretch of road like there is since the makeover.
It’s Sunday morning – who won the race?