Mechanicsville Rd and Rt 234.

[Hijinx]

Hardly a week goes by that Police and Rescue vehicles are called to this intersection for an accident .
Last night a Virginia tagged vehicle went through the stop sign there and hit a car traveling west on Rte. 234.

I wrote the State Department of Highways and requested they put rumble strips on Mechanicsville Rd. to warn drivers of the coming stop sign. They told me that the Rumble strips were hard on their snow plows and they refused to put them there.
Isn't someone life and property worth more than a snow plow blade? For some reason when it rains that intersection is very slippery, I guess there isn't much they can do about that, but they can warn occasional users of that Rd that there is a stop sign coming up cheaply and easily and the Highway Department ignores the problem.

People have been killed there. Vehicles destroyed and people injured. It is happening over and over and there is a need for some sort of warning if it's just a painted strip or several painted strips. on Mechanicsville Rd.

 

[kwillia]

Doesn't have to be rumble strips. If not rumble strips, then there must be something else that can bring attention... red flashing stop signs... double flashing reds like those at a train track.

 

[Sneakers]

Doesn't have to be rumble strips. If not rumble strips, then there must be something else that can bring attention... red flashing stop signs... double flashing reds like those at a train track.

A manikin on a big spring that jumps towards the road as a car approaches...

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

"Messes up our plows" is the default response followed by "Fire trucks can't go over them". Neither is correct.

I'm trying to picture the intersection and can't. Are there houses and/or businesses there? If so, rumble strips would get annoying due to the noise generated.

 

[stgislander]

"Messes up our plows" is the default response followed by "Fire trucks can't go over them". Neither is correct.

I'm trying to picture the intersection and can't. Are there houses and/or businesses there? If so, rumble strips would get annoying due to the noise generated.

No houses that I can see.. When traveling east on 234, it's at the base of the hill as you approach Chaptico. I'm trying to remember if the intersection has street lighting. It always seems dark at night.

Instead of speed bumps why not cut grooves into the pavement so the tires "sing" as you approach the intersection.

 

[Sneakers]

No houses that I can see.. When traveling east on 234, it's at the base of the hill as you approach Chaptico. I'm trying to remember if the intersection has street lighting. It always seems dark at night.

Instead of speed bumps why not cut grooves into the pavement so the tires "sing" as you approach the intersection.

Some very inventive people cut the lines in the road at a construction site to "sing" the 5 tones from Close Encounters. Once slowly, then again, much faster. I loved driving over that.

 

[PrchJrkr]

No houses that I can see.. When traveling east on 234, it's at the base of the hill as you approach Chaptico. I'm trying to remember if the intersection has street lighting. It always seems dark at night.

Instead of speed bumps why not cut grooves into the pavement so the tires "sing" as you approach the intersection.

There is lighting on 234, I do believe. Grooves might be the way to go. I also think I remember a stop ahead warning sign prior to the stop sign itself.

 

[HemiHauler]

No houses that I can see.. When traveling east on 234, it's at the base of the hill as you approach Chaptico. I'm trying to remember if the intersection has street lighting. It always seems dark at night.

Instead of speed bumps why not cut grooves into the pavement so the tires "sing" as you approach the intersection.

No lights of any sort at or near the intersection. Some flashing yellow/red lights overheard would work far better than any other option, IMO.

 

[my-thyme]

They just within the last 2 months put rumble strips on both ends of Park Hall Road.

Must be doable.

 

[HemiHauler]

Correction - there are some lights, but they look to be more streetlights for 234 traffic than they are lights to warn motorists come from C/M Rd, highlighted in the image below. If you go here on Street View and poke around, you can see them better.

 

[CRHS89]

There is lighting there but it is that amber light that is very subtle. There is also a house near the end of Mechanicsville Rd, but it is hard to see because it is up a hill and fronted by the woods.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Correction - there are some lights, but they look to be more streetlights for 234 traffic than they are lights to warn motorists come from C/M Rd, highlighted in the image below. If you go here on Street View and poke around, you can see them better.

Ok, that gives me the spot. Rumble strips, not speed bumps, would be more than doable there. Now, whether the very special kind of morons that live in Maryland, all regions, would pay attention is another issue.

 

[OccamsRazor]

I suppose I am one of the few that does not understand the problem. There is a STOP sign at the intersection correct? For people traveling on Mechanicsville Road? There is no precaution or device that can be installed to prevent inattentive drivers from not paying attention if they don't want to.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

I suppose I am one of the few that does not understand the problem. There is a STOP sign at the intersection correct? For people traveling on Mechanicsville Road? There is no precaution or device that can be installed to prevent inattentive drivers from not paying attention if they don't want to.

Like I said, that very special type of Maryland moron.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

Thinking it has more to do with the angle of Mechanicville Road intersecting with 234, the curvature of 234 at that location, and the line of sight left and right from those at the stop sign. In addition to lacking a passing lane to the left for stopped vehicles waiting to turn left onto Mechanicville Road.

 

[kwillia]

I suppose I am one of the few that does not understand the problem. There is a STOP sign at the intersection correct? For people traveling on Mechanicsville Road? There is no precaution or device that can be installed to prevent inattentive drivers from not paying attention if they don't want to.

The end of the road is on a curve and lots of trees and such right up until the end of the road so I am thinking by the time they register seeing the stop sign, they are still going 50ish and don't have time to fully stop.

 

[OccamsRazor]

Common sense should rule in this scenario. Unless the sight of 234 is completely blocked, then anyone with common sense would know that you cannot just continue into cross traffic without at least yielding.

 

[Kyle]

Compromise.

Spike Strips that pop up over 49mph.

 

[kwillia]

Compromise.

Spike Strips that pop up over 49mph.

Winna-winna-chickin-dinna!

 

[kom526]

Compromise.

Spike Strips that pop up over 49mph.

Great idea!