Careful what you ask for...the most likely fix is a round about !

Behind Stewarts would make a lot of sesns and is in the best interest of public safety.

We don't need an exit from I87 to Malta Ave. What a mess that would make.

So Rich, What mess are you talking about? I'm curious as to why you think a Malta Ave Exit is such a bad idea.

Have any of the people that say they "want this fixed" driven through there within the past month ?? What more do you want the State to do....build a special overpass just for you from 13N to Old Post Rd ??

No Sic. There is at least an accident per week at the route 9/Old Post Road intersection. It is dangerous. Rather than trying to make it safer I recommend drivers voluntarily re-route themselves to Malta Ave when the bridge re-opens. Is that whining to you?

Currently exit 13 allows you to proceed (on Route 9) north to Old Post Road or south to Malta Ave. It serves 2 ways to the village. An exit for Malta Ave would be too confusing because it would be close to exit 13, take valuable land off the tax rolls, change the characture of a rural area and provide little, if any, enhancement to the area.

Rich,
Exit 13 allows access to B'Spa, via Old Post Road, and Malta Ave. This is true. Both methods require local knowledge of roads and traffic flow that is very dangerous to out of town drivers. The Old Post Road way from 13north requires crossing 2 lanes of traffic in 200 yards. The exit 13 south exit to route nine is a very short entrance ramp to route nine, with need to avoid traffic exiting The Nissan Dealer and Saratoga bridges bus lot.

An exchange at Malta ave is a far more direct, and safe, route to B'Spa and Milton. The land that would be needed to construct it is not improved and offers very little in tax revenue. The current configuration is by far more confusing to non local drivers.

Old Post Road was never met to handle the 7,000 cars per-day that it currently sees. The 4 ton limit signs on both ends of the road indicates the intention to keep it a rural route. The 40 tractor trailers that ignor the weight limit are destroying the bridges.

Ballston Spa would benefit from a much needed direct route to I-87. Based on your arguments, it seems you must live on Malta Ave, and just don't want to see the increase in traffic flow.

Rich, You are correct, exit 13 north and south provide access to B'Spa. Exit 13 north, when traveling south on I-87 requires drivers to cross two lanes of fast moving traffic to enter the left turn lane in about 100 yards. Without local knowledge, it is very confusing, and devoid of signage directing non-local drivers, which makes it very dangerous. When traveling north on I-87 exit 13 south to route nine is a very short entrance ramp and cluttered with the traffic leaving the Nissan dealership and Saratoga Bridges bus yard. This area is very dangerous to non-local drivers. The land needed to build an exit at Malta Ave is undeveloped and offers very little, if any, tax receipts. From appearances, most of the necessary construction would take place in the existing easements.

Old Post Road was never intended to handle 7000 cars per day. 40 ton tractor trailers are destroying the bridges and roadway, inspite of the 4 ton limit signs on each end.

I can't see how an exit on Malta ave could be less safe or more confusing the current configuration.

Keep the existing ramp a exit 13N, but add a "split "on the ramp. Branch off with a ramp that goes to Cherry Choke road just east of Stewarts with signage that directs one to use it for Old Post Road. Signage on the existing ramp could say "Route 9 North". Hopefully this problem will be somewhat allieviated when Malta Ave. re-opens. A lot of motorists are using Old Post road for a detour.

First, I must explain the double post above. The second post was added after the first did not appear. Now, there are two with the same basic thoughts.

Cracker, your idea would be perfect IF we wanted to encourage the use of Old Post Road as a major highway. O.P.R. is not designed for high frequency use. It is town road that does not have the ability to handle large vehicles.

When Malta Ave re-opens, I'm afraid the drivers will stick with their old habits and continue to use O.P.R. We should do our best to discourage that.

The most cost effective and safest course is an exchange at Malta Ave. I encourage everyone concerned to look at a map of the area to see how convenient it would be.

Rich: I think it is unrealistic to think your are going to stop people from using old post road with their passenger vehicles. With my line of work, I have used it quite often over the past 6 years, another 6 months I won't have to be concerned, my company is losing the client I go to.

Cracker, Sorry about that client. That just gives you the time to see another client. He's out there.

I agree. We can never stop the use of Old Post Road. Obviously, it's a public road. My desire is to encourage other routes. An entrance from I-87 to Malta Ave. would eliminate a vast majority of the traffic. O.P.R. is not designed or constructed for the stress of the large vehicles it suffers. Rather than reconstruct it into a major highway, at some absurd cost, the entrance way on Malta Ave. is much more cost effective and would add greatly to our safety .

The extention to the turning lane has made it far more dangerous rather that better for people getting off I87 and turning on to Old Post Road. Another dumb move by DOT.

I will be going over Malta Ave from now on.

Paul
Those of us living on Old Post Road appreciate your decision to use Malta Ave.

I see yesterday there was a bad accident there again .people don"t want to wait they just think they can make it .Use the Malta Ave way , you get to the same place and safer .

I had a very close incident there merging over three lanes to the extreme left side of Rt 9 north taking a left onto Old post Rd.
Someone is going to get killed there if something is not done soon.

This is a danger - however the people getting off the northway on the ramp should come to a complete STOP. Hello RT 9 is the highway you are merging on to - people on Rt 9 have the ROW - instead of blasting over two lanes of traffic to get to the turn lane how about stopping and waiting until it is safe.

I agree but the people getting off the northway are going 60 miles ahour getting off and they will have a crash there also

The same is true for people getting off onto Rt 9 South. There should atleast be a 'Yield' sign so people know that they have to get over (that merging lane ends sudden) and I can't tell you how many times I've had people come flying off the off ramp to cut me off or practically side swipe me! Soo dangerous!!!! Both the south and north exits.

People wishing to go towards Ballston Spa should take Exit 13S instead and use Malta Ave to access Northline Rd. It is about the same distance to the Old Post Rd/Northline Rd. intersection and is far safer than jumping 3 lanes off the 13N exit ramp.

Wasn't there ANOTHER accident here just the other day? When are they going to address this major issue...When people start losing lives? I am terrified everyday of the people cutting across three lanes getting off 13N, I can't tell you how many times I have almost been hit. It doesn;t matter if I am in the right lane or left lane, it is equally dangerous for us people traveling north on route 9. They don't even try to stop, they just cut across as if they have the right of way and the people traveling North on 9 should just stop for them! It is a death trap!

I agree with the summer season more accidents will happen and someone will end up getting killed there.Something needs to be done soon.

The solution to this problem is so simple and obvious. Exit at 13 South, proceed to Malta Ave. Turn right. Drive two miles and turn right on North Line Road. It add two minutes to you trip and years to your life.