| Monroe
Street Detours Are Dangerous |
|
To the editor:
|
| The street lane set-up and configuration on Monroe Street
has been a problem since the construction began on the new
building development, although it hasn't bothered me all that
much, until today. |
| I use the quote taken from a Reston resident from last week's
Observer article ("Monroe St. Project Delayed Until Spring"):
"You feel like you're going over into someone else's lane."
Well that's exactly what I just encountered heading towards
Worldgate Drive on Monroe Street. |
| As I turned left onto Monroe Street from Sunrise Valley
Drive, I encountered a vehicle traveling at a high rate of
speed in my lane heading towards me and the rest of the traffic
behind me. I was forced to slam on my brakes as the cars behind
had to follow suit. The oncoming car realized that he was
in the wrong lane, and luckily had room to swerve back into
the traffic pattern. |
| This nearly caused a series of accidents. The cars behind
me nearly slammed into me and the oncoming driver nearly hit
a few others as he tried to avoid the head on collision. If
the factors would have been altered by just a few seconds,
a head-on collision would have been unavoidable risking many
lives including my own. This obviously doesn't make me feel
at ease when traveling on Monroe Street near this construction
site. |
| If nothing can be done to fix the roads permanently in the
near future, something must be done temporarily. Suggestions:
Barriers separating oncoming traffic similar to the concrete
barriers recently placed on Monroe to separate the construction
site from the road (this would also force drivers to decrease
their speed to avoid contacting the barriers), re-painting
the lines on the road, traffic officer to assist in times
of heavy traffic, officer monitoring speeds of drivers (this
is done on Worldgate Drive with great success and would increase
awareness of offenders on Monroe). |
| Typically traffic lights are installed at intersections
where there is a high accident rate in order to avoid more.
Hence, residents must wait until there's an accident to see
any action taken. |
| I think it's time we do something about this traffic pattern,
even temporary solutions to avoid any future potentials. Today
was enough to convince me. |
| Jerry Finazzo |
| Herndon |
