The center lane is wonderful. For decades trucks and cars dipped into the manhole cover at the center of the road, shaking every house on Marion Avenue to its foundation -- ALL DAY LONG! Because, of course, the DOT could care less if they level off the road or do a good job protecting the sanity of the people who must live with their "workmanship." But now, the manhole sits inside the center lane, circumventing the DOT's incompetence entirely!

Also, now residents can stop to turn into their driveways without some lunatic going 70 mph north/south on Marion almost driving right into your trunk when you brake to make a left turn. I thought I'd hate the center lane because it's instinctive to pretty much despise all decisions made by the State DOT, but in fact I now prefer it. Hooray center lane!

Hi Fred,

I guess you are absolutely right about the man hole, but I can't tell you how many times when turning right off Marion into our driveway we nearly get hit from behind. Also, getting the mail from the mailbox is definitely a hazard as you have to actually stand in the street to get the mail box open! I wonder how you deal with those problems??

There is no doubt that Marion Ave (aka Route 9 Motor Speedway) is a very dangerous stretch of road where traffic is rarely if ever policed. To your points, which are concerns I also share, i brake and signal very early to protect myself from aggressive or distracted drivers barreling up or down Marion right off my bumper.

And for the mailbox, I have one that opens on both ends so I don't need to stand in the street. Another point is that we're forced to shovel a giant half circle for mail delivery while standing in a busy highway all winter. But truth is: I still wouldn't trade any of it to have that BOOMING insanity of the manhole cover under the axles of every southbound vehicle every hour of the day.

But, things can always get worse. Some clown at the state could have the dim lightbulb notion to put a traffic light at the intersection of Maple Ave and Rt. 9 in front of the Triangle Diner. THAT would be the realization of a true nightmare with traffic standing still the whole length of Marion Avenue. Or, this new concern of needing to "fix" the issue of traffic blocking the egress to Maple Dell while waiting at the light at Rt. 50. I think there is only so much that can be done and then you must simply live in a world where you're surrounded by horrendous drivers.

Fred

There's no need to put the families on this road at risk for a turning lane that is hardly ever used. The fact is...without the shoulder there is NO safe way to pull into traffic, especially during the winter months. We cannot get our mail without standing in the middle of traffic hoping to not get hit by the lunatic drivers speeding down the road. A mailbox that opens from the back is not an option due to the monsterous snowbanks. Sorry, but let's be realistic here, the turning lanes are a hazard. Period.

no fix