|
The City of Brook Park is conducting a study of the geometry
of the “spaghetti-like” Snow
Road and Engle Road intersection. The study
area will involve the section of Snow Road between S.R. 237 and Engle Road and Engle Road between
Snow Road
and Hummel Road.
The study is for a proposed
project to address and meet the following purposes and needs.
Purpose A:
Improve traffic flow patterns
in the Snow Road
/ Engle Road
area.
Need A:
The existing Engle Road in the
study area consists of two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound
divided by crossing roads and bisected by the eastbound Snow Road merge lanes. The existing
traffic patterns of Snow
Road and Engle Road are extremely confusing and
deficient. Northbound and southbound lanes of Engle Road have several merging and cross
roadways between Snow Road
and Hummel Road.
Northbound Engle Road
Traffic needs to select the correct crossover roadway to travel westbound
on Snow Road.
Eastbound Snow Road
traffic attempting to travel northbound on Engle Road needs to complete several crossover
maneuvers to complete the transition.
Purpose B:
Provide a calming effect to the
traffic flow in the area.
Need B:
The need for traffic calming
is not in the true sense of reducing speed; in this instance, it is
for providing comfort to the traveling public. Motorists who infrequently
drive the Snow Road
/ Engle Road Intersection traverse the area with anxiety. Several
of the required traffic maneuvers arrive quickly and are made with hesitation.
Propose C:
Improve the vehicular safety
along Engle Road.
Need C:
Recorded accidents in 2004 for
the study area were compared with the statewide average for an urban
collector. Based on the statewide average accident rate for an
urban collector, approximately 3 accidents per year would be expected
in the 3500-foot study area of Engle
Road. The statewide mean factor for
accident rates does not include intersection or related accidents.
The accident data compiled by the City of Brook Park Police Department
shows 28 accidents occurred in 2004. Some of the accidents occurred
at the stop conditions of the cross roadways, several were in merging
areas and some involved crashes into utility poles.
Purpose D:
Provide a more sign-friendly
roadway.
Need D:
The existing Engle Road area
is cluttered with ground-mounted signs. Motorists must constantly
look at the signage for guidance on maneuvers and stops.
For comments or questions
concerning this project contact Edward R. Piatak, Engineer Representative
for the City of Brook Park,
by phone at (440) 260-1555 or by email at erpiatak@euthenics-inc.com.
|
