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Politics & Government

DOT Agrees that Signal Change Should Be Implemented at Routes 179, 44

Letter acknowledges problems at complex intersection.

The state Department of Transportation has finalized the analysis of the intersection of U.S. Route 44 and Route 179, a traffic "hotspot" that has been on the radar of the Canton Police Department for the last six months, First Selectman Richard Barlow told fellow selectmen Wednesday night.

In the July 11 letter, the DOT’s Active Manager of Traffic Engineering Timothy Wilson said that a change in the traffic light phasing would reduce the number of accidents at the troublesome intersection.

“Hopefully we’re seeing some movement there,” Barlow said.

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In an interview earlier Wednesday, Police Chief Christopher Arciero, who has been pushing for the signal change since December, said he was relieved to hear the news.

"I think that's good," he said.

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The problem, as described by Arciero, is when people traveling south on Route 179 turn left on to Route 44. Initially left turn signals are triggered for north and south-bound traffic. The left turn signal for southbound traffic remains on when opposing traffic begins to cross the intersection, and the DOT letter acknowledges it can be difficult to negotiate the gap in traffic. It also states that some sightline issues contribute to the problem.

The letter states that southbound traffic should turn left only during a "northbound and southbound exclusive left-turn phase..."

The DOT's Division of Traffic Engineering will complete the design and then ask the Department's Office of Maintanence to make the change, according to the letter.

The DOT gave no time frame for the changes.

"At least it's an acknowledgment," Arciero said.

A DOT spokesman reached by Patch Wednesday afternoon said he would look into the timeline but as of late Wednesday night had not yet passed on the information.

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