Glenville residents made it clear they are uneasy about a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Glenridge Road. About 100 residents came out for a public information session held Wednesday, April 2, at the municipal center to express their concerns.
Most residents agreed the well-traveled intersection that connects Glenville with Clifton Park needs updating, but many said they don’t feel a roundabout is the solution.
A one-way bridge is currently located on Glenridge Road, and many residents feel that, although it may not be the most efficient alternative, it is part of what gives the town its character.
The bridge is so quaint and distinctive, said Glenville resident Audrey Hughes.
The proposed project has four main objectives, which include addressing the horizontal clearance issues with the bridges, rehabilitating the pavement, addressing safety concerns, and improving the Maple Avenue intersection. The project carries a $10 million price tag and would take about two years to complete, according to Town Planner Kevin Corcoran. He said the road is traveled by about 11,000 vehicles daily, and the biggest problem is the visibility on the narrow road.
`We see at least twice as many accidents as we should on this type of road. It’s really a safety issue,` said Corcoran.
Transportation Department spokesman Peter Van Keuren attended the meeting and told those assembled that the state is constructing more roundabouts in communities, and the initial reaction is often opposition.
`We will guide the town through the change and monitor what is going on. We hear a lot of concerns when the word ’roundabout’ is used,` said Van Keuren.
As a result of the project, Van Keuren said improvements with drainage would also be made. He said modest reductions of the downhill slope on Glenridge Road east of Bruce Drive will be made and that residents in that area will see short spans of re-routing traffic.
Construction is not set to begin until spring of 2009 with an anticipated finish date of spring of 2011.
The town must first obtain special permits from both the state and federal levels because some of the construction will have a minor environmental impact. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said that the construction would actually help to decrease erosion and protect wetlands in the surrounding areas of Glenridge Road.“