Port Henry replaces stone traffic circle

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

July 6, 2008

By LOHR McKINSTRY The Press Republican Sun Jul 06, 2008, 12:00 AM EDT

PORT HENRY -- The historic stone Port Henry traffic circle is gone but not forgotten.

The traffic island was removed after repeated scrapes from tractor-trailer trucks knocked stones loose and damaged the planting bed inside.

The space where it stood has been paved over, to the chagrin of some residents who wanted the circle left where it was.

But the circle isn't gone forever, Village Mayor Gary Cooke said.

"We will be relocating the traffic circle, hopefully to keep it from being hit so often."

Village Public Works Superintendent John Tromblee said he's getting red brick paving stones to build a new traffic island slightly smaller in diameter.

"I think we can make it a touch smaller and move it up the hill a little bit. The tractor-trailers won't hit it."

The traffic island sat at Main and Broad streets in the village and had a garden bed in the center that was planted with flowers.

Village Trustee James Curran said pre-fabricated paving blocks can be used for the new traffic island.

"Every time we fix the circle, the trucks hit it (again) and knock the stones out."

The island had been constructed from masonry stones similar to those on the stone walls around some village homes.

The island was once larger and had a bandshell in the center where concerts were held. The bandshell was removed in the 1960s and the stone traffic circle put in.

Cooke said the edges of the pavement will be beveled at the new traffic island to push away tires of vehicles that get too close.

"They (the DPW crew) know what to do."

Tromblee said he's spoken with State Department of Transportation Engineer Michael Fayette on how to proceed with the traffic circle.

He said the state will give advice on how to correctly restructure the circle, decide on an exact location and ensure it is done properly the first time to allow for better flow of traffic.

Some people have complained about the removal of the old stone traffic island, Cooke said, because it was considered historic.

Some residents are also opposed to using pre-fabricated blocks to build the circle, instead of the stones that had been mortared in place.

Broad Street, where the traffic island is located, is scheduled for repaving in 2009.

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com