Ansonia Public Works Superintendent Doug Novak contact the DOT weeks ago but they have yet to act. We will put in a second call.

Pat Henri
6th Ward Alderman

Thanks Ward 6,

It's a shame two calls need to be made. Not only is this track issue a hazard, that entire intersection is near the tracks. It goes from two lanes before the tracks (at Stop & Shop heading towards CVS) to three lanes on the other side of the tracks with little warning or visibility because of the train crossing.

The number of vehicles that switch lanes without looking or find themselves in a lane they didn't want once crossing the tracks is scary. I think I've seen an accident waiting to happen daily.

Installing signs and pavement markings to reflect the lane arrangement prior to the crossing would be helpful, but as usual, the drivers who are selfish will zoom up past you on the right and cut to the left at the last moment leaving vehicles in the precarious position on standing on the train tracks. It's one of the most busy intersections in the valley, it has no signals for pedestrians, few cross walks, and poor lighting. It's only a matter of time before a fatality will occur. Time to be proactive.

Elevated plates appear to be back in place.

Thanks Bill,

Yes, even looking at that intersection from Google satellite images shows several problems.

1. Coming down Division to Cumberland Farms the road can't handle the traffic volume at peak hours. Cars should not cue all the way up to the intersection where Cherney Pontiac was to the point where people end up blocking the intersection at top of the hill. I realize this area was widened perhaps a decade ago, but if that is how vehicles traveling South on Route 8 are supposed to get to one of the busiest retail areas in the Valley it should have been two lane in each direction. Of course, the state has promised 100 times to fix the Pershing on and off ramps so that you can exit 8 onto Pershing going South. Never going to happen.

2. At the intersection mentioned, you are correct. Just this morning I saw two cars cross the train track and apparently being thrown by the road suddenly becoming three lanes (which don't like up with the two that lead you there) have to force their way into the center lane.

I have seen many pedestrians try and cross Division there also. It's not that a road adding a turn lane at an intersection is odd, it's that you suddenly have to shift all the traffic without warning or they are between lanes.

Advance signage should be installed traveling Westbound on Division toward the tracks.

Traffic is about to get much worse on Division St Hill as the Route 8 North Ramp is about to be constructed at Division St and Westfield Ave. When the Hill Section was widened the intention was to extend the state-owned section of Division Street from Pershing all the way to RT 8 at Westfield. Never happened because parking would be banned on both sides, all the way.

A four-way interchange between Pershing and Route 8 that also extends Pershing Drive directly to RT 34 has had a preliminary design and cost estimate since 2005 as part of the Route 8 Improvments- Phase I is Interchange 18 at Division St, Phase II is Route 34 (Main Street Derby) and Phase III is interchange 16-17 (Pershing Dr). Cost for that is estimated at $90 million.

All of these projects are in Construction (Phase I), Final Design (Main St), or Preliminary Design (Phase III). Phases I & II are fully funded through construction. Phase III is on the State's unfunded portion of their Capital Plan.

These delays are what you get when you encourage the Congress not to spend your taxes on ANY investment or pass a Highway Bill!

Saw a crew of 7 guys, 1 truck and 2 police officers working on tracks about an hour ago.

Planner,

I stopped cold when I saw "Traffic is about to get much worse on Division St Hill as the Route 8 North Ramp is about to be constructed at Division St and Westfield Ave."

Huh?

The state has been "studying" fixing the mess that is the one and off ramps of Route 8 in Derby and Ansonia for over 15 years... and not a shovel has been placed in the ground.

Yes, the hill on Division Street is backing up further and further during peak periods because that road was never designed to handle all the traffic flowing off Route 8 at Exit 17 to get to Division and Pershing. A Pershing Southbound exit ramp is a decade past due.

I would love to see more official discussion here of what the heck the slowdown is? Heck, the entrance ramp at Seymour Avenue to Rt. 8 north is hazardous.

Crossing has been rebuilt