Press-Republican

Editorial

Discussion

IMPORTANT: Comments that include a personal attack on other commenters will be deleted in their entirety. Your comments are not welcome here if you can't maintain a civil tone.

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
August 5, 2012

Editorial: Busy intersections need review

-- Press-Republican

The section of Route 3 in the Town of Plattsburgh between Consumer Square and the Northway entrance is certainly one of the area’s busiest roadways. That is why it is essential that traffic move smoothly and safely through the intersections there.

That is not always happening now, and the State Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the roads there, needs to get involved.

A reader recently complained to us about the Smithfield Boulevard intersection with the entranceway for the plaza that houses Price Chopper, Lowe’s, K-mart and other stores. The person wrote: “Coming out of the Lowe’s shopping plaza heading west toward the highway entrance, I’ve seen so many close-call accidents as locals have to rush to get off the turn-only lanes for the highway.”

He suggested that lane markers be added to guide people to the proper lanes. If people knew while still on Route 3 to get in the left lane to go south on the Northway and the left lane to go north, fewer last-minute lane switches would occur.

A dangerous situation exists at the bank of lights at the plaza intersection with Smithfield. Drivers leaving the parking lot and turning right to head east on Route 3 sometimes get a green light at the same time that pedestrians get a “Walk” signal. That means people are sometimes crossing the street right into the path of turning cars.

“Also, is it so hard to have straight lanes as we drive through the intersections of Route 3 and Smithfield or Route 3 and the highway entrance light?” the reader asked. “What is with the curved line heading east onto Route 3 by the Stewart’s and Mobil as we’re leaving Morrisonville?”

It is also noticeable, when traveling west on Route 3 to turn on to the Northway, that the traffic-light arrows are slightly out of alignment with the lanes.

And it is hard to know where to start when talking about the issues with the Consumer Square entranceway. The lanes that take you from Route 3 into the plaza would be confusing enough for people not familiar with the area, but a bigger challenge awaits once you hit the end of that first section and have to decide whether to head straight toward Wal-Mart or turn right or left. That plaza intersection, though improved over its original design, would still baffle the best driver. You are practically taking your life in your hands if you want to turn left — or if you hope to enter that intersection from the left (leaving Staples, for example).

A number of accidents have occurred at the Smithfield and Consumer Square intersections, partially due to the challenging lane situation and the lack of clear signage. But DOT is usually reluctant to make alterations without research providing hard evidence of problems.

We urge DOT officials to do a thorough review of those active intersections. They could likely be improved with simple changes in signage. 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Editorial
  • Editorial: F-35 jets aren't needed here Plattsburgh and the North Country have had their love affair with the U.S. military.

    June 19, 2013

  • Editorial: Moving toward shared services We applaud the intent by two of the biggest school districts in our area -- Beekmantown Central School and Plattsburgh City Schools -- to look into areas where they can cut costs by sharing duties or services.

    June 18, 2013

  • Editorial: Smoking ban expanded at parks

    The state has expanded the areas where smoking will be banned this year at the state's parks and historic sites.

    June 16, 2013

  • Editorial: Ways to reduce credit-card debt Americans are hip-deep in credit-card debt, and that makes digging out of national and international economic misery still more difficult.

    June 14, 2013

  • Editorial: Parents can impact decisions As children begin to grow more independent and sometimes clash with parents, it is easy for mom and dad to back away.

    June 13, 2013

  • Editorial: Texting while driving must end

    When it comes to texting while driving, the challenge is all about withstanding temptation.

    June 12, 2013

  • Editorial: City manager worth studying

    Changing the form of government under which the City of Plattsburgh operates from a strong mayor to a city manager is an idea at least worth exploring.

    June 11, 2013

  • Editorial: Coping with ER closure The concerns raised by ORDA about the proposed closure of the Adirondack Medical Center Emergency Department in Lake Placid have added a substantial new wrinkle to the debate.

    June 9, 2013

  • Editorial: Work together for downtown

    One of the main factors impeding downtown Plattsburgh from reaching its full potential has nothing to do with the number of stores, the amount of parking or the draw of the huge commercial sector up on Route 3.

    June 7, 2013

  • Editorial: D-Day prayer In tribute to all the heroes who died on June 6, 1944, and in recognition of the significance in history of "D Day," as it became known, the Press-Republican reprints the prayer offered that day by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    June 6, 2013