4
week in Review
Week of September 6 – September 12, 2013
Round Lake Road Improvements Not Coming Until 2015 by Chelsea Dischiano Saratoga TODAY MALTA – A presentation led by a Creighton Manning engineer at the Malta Town Board meeting September 3 showed that though engineers are working on a design to improve heavilytrafficked intersections at Round Lake Road, no improvements will be made until 2015. On a road corridor that sees an average of 8,400 to 14,800 vehicles a day due to the increased growth of the area, Malta residents have been complaining to the board about traffic problems for months. The Creighton
Manning study showed results of a higher than average accident rate, with 64 car accidents— mostly rear-ends—occurring in the past three years. 33 of those occurred on straight segments of the road while 31 happened at intersections, engineer and project manager Steve Godlewski said. The project includes the reconstruction of 0.5 miles of Round Lake Road between Chango Drive and the I-87 Exit 11 southbound ramps, improving the intersections of Chango Drive and Ruhle/Raylinsky Roads with Round Lake Road. The project will also provide pedestrian connections between
Chango Drive and Carlyle Court and from Ruhle/Raylinsky Roads east to the Round Lake Bypass. So far, the engineers are looking at three alternatives to place on the corridor: the first would be a traffic signal at Chango Drive and Raylinsky Road. The second option would be to instead place roundabouts throughout the corridor, or the town could pick and choose “a la carte” options and place a traffic light at one intersection and a roundabout at another. Godlewski said the increase of accidents is most likely due to the increase in traffic which is only going to continue increasing in the next 20 years.
“When you have an increase in traffic, you tend to have an increase in accidents,” Godlewski said. He added that though he “has seen much worse, this is still above average.” Godlewski also said the process will be very lengthy because the town has to deal with the county, NYSDOT, and state environmental workers who will study intersections to make sure no endangered species are present—which could also determine which alternative must be chosen. Because the project is partly funded by federal money, both
the town and the county must both agree on an alternative and then give NYSDOT the design for final approval before being able to continue with the project. The timeline provided by Godlewski in his presentation showed an alternative being selected this winter, a final design being chosen in spring 2014, advertising construction in fall 2014 and starting construction in early 2015. A public meeting will be held September 18 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall to hear more input from Malta residents on the options they would prefer, as well as to hear more details on the current problems of the corridor.
Man Critically Injured Your News! Following Foot Chase We Want
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SARATOGA SPRINGS – A 21-year-old man was critically injured early Sunday morning when he either fell or jumped from construction scaffolding while trying to evade police. While on patrol, two Saratoga Springs officers saw a man shove a woman’s head into a brick wall near the corner of Broadway and Caroline Street and when the man realized the police were approaching him fled south on Broadway before ducking into the alleyway next to the new Washington Building. Both officers tried to Taser the man, identified as Darryl Mount, Jr., but failed to make contact with him. Mount then ducked into the construction area behind the Washington Building where police lost sight of him. While one officer followed behind Mount, others ran toward the alleyway which separates Gaffney’s and Look TV to try and cut off Mount. Publisher/Editor
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Mount was found unconscious lying in the alley and transported to Albany Medical Center where he has been in a coma since. Chief of Police Greg Veitch tried to field rumors of police brutality by sending out a press release earlier this week. “There is no evidence at this point that police engaged in anything other than a foot pursuit onto unlit construction scaffolding behind 422 Broadway,” wrote Veitch. “The pursuit was begun after officers observed Mount assault another person and in accordance with what Saratoga Springs Police Officers are mandated to do.” But Mount’s family and friends feel otherwise and a protest was staged in front of City Hall during a city council meeting on September 3. Veitch said the investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident should call the police at (518) 584-1800 or anonymously at (518) 584-TIPS. Art Department Frank Garguilo 581-2480 x 202 fgarguilo@saratogapublishing.com Eric Havens 581-2480 x 207 ehavens@saratogapublishing.com Jessica Kane 581-2480 x 215 jkane@saratogapublishing.com Photographer Mark Bolles 490-1757 mbolles@photoandgraphic.com