Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Locals Say Construction Makes Dangerous Corner More Hazardous

By Carla Zanoni | September 15, 2011 6:44pm

INWOOD — Renovations to a notoriously dangerous intersection in Inwood are temporarily creating more havoc for residents than the original problems, residents say.

Pedestrians who frequent the northwest corner of 218th Street and Broadway, where 10th Avenue also intersects across the street, say repairs being made to the northwest corner force them to walk out in traffic alongside speeding drivers.

“They’re making a bad situation worse,” said Laura Antigua, 38, as she walked north on Broadway this week.

A Department of Transportation spokesman said the construction is part of its attempt to improve street safety through the Sherman Creek/Inwood Traffic Study.

The project aims to extend the corner in order to slow drivers who are trying to make a right turn onto 218th Street from Broadway.  Aside from orange cones and tape, there are no signs warning pedestrians that the sidewalk is closed.

A plan to improve traffic and safety at the intersection of Broadway, Tenth Avenue and W. 218th Street is being implemented by the DOT.
A plan to improve traffic and safety at the intersection of Broadway, Tenth Avenue and W. 218th Street is being implemented by the DOT.
View Full Caption
Department of Transportation

On Friday, DOT said metal barriers had been installed at the location to help separate pedestrians from vehicle traffic during construction.

The intersection had become an increased danger for parents as they walk their kids to P.S. 278 on the east side of Broadway.

“It’s an accident just waiting to happen!” wrote one parent on a local parenting email list.

Parents of the kindergarten to eighth grade children have clamored for a crossing guard at the perilous stretch of Broadway for at least two years, they say.

Although there have been no reports of harmed children, the intersection was the site of a serious accident last year when an elderly man tried to make a left onto West 218th Street from Broadway.

He died hours after he was hit by a garbage truck traveling south on Broadway.

A ban on making left turns had recently been instated at the time of the accident, but many residents said they were unaware of the traffic change.

Recognizing problems at the intersection, DOT officials announced they would be making temporary improvements to the 10th Avenue portion of the intersection this summer, installing pedestrian signals for crossing from the avenue to a bus stop island as well as adding markings around the columns at 10th Avenue.

DOT announced a plan to add more safety measures to the Broadway portion of the intersection this month after meeting with concerned parents at a Community Board 12 traffic and transportation committee meeting in June.