Town Considers Solution For Old Sound Avenue Traffic Concerns

MATTITUCK, NY — Spotlighting what many have seen as a potentially deadly traffic problem in Mattituck, the Southold Town board took steps Tuesday to create a solution for the Old Sound Avenue area, where some motorists are often seen driving the wrong way down the one-way street.

Southold Town Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando and Town Engineer Jamie Richter discussed the proposal at Tuesday's town board work session; the plan would include signage and re-striping on Old Sound Avenue.

According to Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, the project largely consists of re-striping the road that would narrow the lane of travel down to 14 feet. Lines would mark out the parallel parking along each side.

And, at the intersection with Westphalia and Old Sound, there will be "new painting, new signage and arrows which will make it abundantly clear that it is a one-way road and there is absolutely no entrance heading east," Russell said. "The roads will be marked with arrows, as well so that the message is loud and clear."

The supervisor said the plan also calls for putting a stop sign on Old Sound as it enters onto Westphalia as a traffic-calming measure.

The area, the board agreed, has had some serious near misses, with drivers going the wrong way down the one way street.

Also discussed was reducing the speed limit.

Councilman Bill Ruland said the project was time sensitive. "This is something we can get done by Memorial Day."

Councilwoman Jill Doherty said Orlando could begin with painting the lines; the board could then discuss the stop sign and the speed limit issue later. She said she'd like to see the changes before the kick off First Friday event on Love Lane, scheduled for May 4.

Russell agreed. "Let's just do whatever we've got to do, to get it done."

The goal, Councilman Jim Dinizio said, is to get people to drive the right way down the road.

First steps include finding the necessary $7,500 in the budget to begin the painting, Ruland said.

Russell added that the issue was not only speeding but also drivers "rolling out" from Love Lane and thinking other motorists would go around the bend and not straight.

Ruland said the simple changes might prove effective."We'll be kicking ourselves for not doing it sooner considering the historic dangers there," he said.

The solution, Russell said, is a temporary one, until a long term answer gets implemented as part of the larger plan to improve safety at Love Lane and Main Road.

The temporary plan was shepherded by Ruland, Russell said, commending the councilman for his work on the issue.

Patch photo by Lisa Finn.