Near Crash In Montclair Has Mom Calling For 4-Way Stop Sign: North Willow, Claremont

Montclair, NJ – A near accident that took place at the corner of North Willow Street and Claremont Avenue last week has a local resident calling for a four-way stop sign at the intersection.

Montclair Lt. David O’Dowd told Patch that the near-crash took place around 1:38 p.m. on March 31, as a motorcycle was traveling east on Claremont Avenue and approaching North Willow Street.

According to O’Dowd, the driver of the motorcycle – a 65-year-old Bloomfield man - purposely wiped out and dropped his bike to the ground to avoid colliding with cars that were edging into the intersection.

There was no actual contact between any vehicles, but the motorcycle slipped and slid, rolling over multiple times and injuring the operator, O’Dowd said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and no summonses have been issued, he added.

FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN?

The incident inspired a local mother of three to write to township officials and request a four-way stop sign and speed bumps at the intersection.

“What is it going to take to get four-way signs?” the North Willow Street resident asked town officials in her email. “Why can’t our kids get the same respect and concern as your shoppers on Walnut Street?... If any of our kids get hit, lawyers will be notified ASAP.”

“Councilor [Sean] Spiller has already requested a response from the [township manager] and staff,” Montclair Deputy Mayor Robert Russo replied in an email. “I will reinforce his efforts.”

But local residents shouldn’t hold their breath for a four-way stop sign in the area just yet.

On Monday, Township Engineer Kimberli Craft wrote that after looking at crash data for the intersections of Claremont Avenue and North Willow Street/Greenwood Avenue in September of 2015, neither intersection meets the requirements for an all-way stop intersection as per township policy, which is based on the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

“Upon reviewing the crash data, I did note that there was one pedestrian crash at North Willow and three at Greenwood,” Craft wrote. “Therefore, I recommended installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (the same device as on Walnut Street) at Greenwood Avenue and Claremont Avenue. Budget authorization has been requested and additional devices will be installed at North Willow and Forest Street if budget permits.”

Craft added that although they weren’t required as per Montclair’s policy, speed and volume studies were conducted on each street in order to check volume warrants for all-way stop intersections.

“Unfortunately, the data for North Willow Street was faulty and this study is being conducted again this week,” Craft stated. “A full report will be made once this data is available and I anticipate completion by April 22.”

The resident replied to Craft’s email with a respectful thank-you, but included a hopeful plea to reconsider the decision.

“I happened to be on my street earlier today when the township was putting traffic/speed cables” she wrote. “Thank you for this action. I understand and still hope we can get four-way signs for the safety of residents. Part of the problem is that drivers are racing up and down the hill on Claremont and not stopping for pedestrians.”

“North Willow sounds like a race track sometimes and it gets worse as the weather gets better,” she concluded. “Some nights I look outside to see if it was a police chase because that's how fast and loud it gets.”

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