October 25, 2021 |
In Saratoga, following a two vehicle crash at the intersection of First and Bridge Streets shortly before noon Friday, town crews were painting the curbs yellow to extend the no-parking zones at three corners.
Lack of traffic controls and poor lines of sight at the busy intersection in the center of downtown makes crossing in any direction risky business for motorists and pedestrians.
Extending the no parking zones was a topic of conversation for the second time this month at Tuesday’s town council meeting. At the October 5th meeting, Councilman Jon Nelson presented a map of the intersection which proposed improving sight–lines at the intersection by reducing how close to the corners vehicles can park.
Pictured above: Saratoga Public Works Director Jon Winter extends the “no parking” zone on the southeast corner of First and Bridge Streets by the Wolf Hotel Friday afternoon. Photo: Jim O’Reilly/Bigfoot 99.
The cost to improve safety at the intersection would be small, a few parking spaces and a couple gallons of paint, Nelson added. Last week, the councilman revisited the topic. Nelson said he had talked with business owners in the area about the plan. None had objected.
The proposed plan, which was presented with a map, called for extending the no-parking striping by about 25 feet at the northeast and southeast corners, and a few feet on the northwest corner. Nelson said the town had the authority and the buy-in from local businesses to improve safety at the intersection.
Public Works Director Jon Winter said the yellow paint was available and the curbs could be painted on the first nice weather day. All were in agreement. Councilman Ron Hutchins made the motion.
The motion passed unanimously. On Friday morning, Winter and another town employee, Mitch Zieger, were at the intersection prepping the curbs for paint when two cars collided. Winter told Bigfoot 99 that he and Zieger were lucky to be standing out of danger. He said the crash was big and loud, but no injuries. Another witness said one of the vehicles was hauled away on a flatbed trailer.
After the crash was cleaned up, and the busy lunch rush downtown had eased, town employees finished applying the yellow paint to the curbs, extending the no-parking zones. With paint roller in hand, Winter told Bigfoot 99 that WYDOT should lay down the striping for the crosswalks at the intersection next month.
