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LAST NIGHT CARS WERE STUCK ON SPRAIN PARKWAY FOR OVER 3 HOURS...CARS DRIVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION..
Release Date: July 07, 2016
LAST NIGHT CARS WERE STUCK ON SPRAIN PARKWAY FOR OVER 3 HOURS...CARS DRIVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION...WE NEED U TURN ACCESS ON CENTER MEDIANS ON SPRAIN PARKWAY--WOULD HELP FIRST RESPONDERS
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is urging the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Police and other state lawmakers to help the town make the Sprain Parkway safer. One suggestion: install a u turn access on center medians on the Sprain Parkway to avoid the situation that took place last night –motorists were stranded on parkway for a few hours ---driving in the opposite direction, creating hazardous situations. A copy of a letter that is being sent to the Commissioner and Regional Director, NY State Department of Transportation, State lawmakers, the Governor and the State Police and an e mail from a constituent who was stuck in traffic for over 3 hours last night and observed dangerous conditions can be read below (constituents e mail address deleted)
NEED FOR NYS TO INSTALL U TURN ACCESS ON CENTER MEDIANS ON SPRAIN PARKWAY TO AVOID SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT ---MOTORISTS STRANDED ON PARKWAY FOR OVER A FEW HOURS
SOME CARS DROVE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITHOUT POLICE DIRECTION TO GET OUT…..
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MOTORISTS HAD TO BE EVACUATED SOONER?
Last night’s motor vehicle accident (haz mat situation—hydrochloric acid) resulted in the closing of the Sprain Parkway for over a few hours. As you will note from the enclosed e mail from a constituent some motorists were driving in opposite directions. They were very frustrated. I would like to request that the procedures used in accidents like this be reviewed. Would it have been possible to have had more police on the scene? Could the police have helped motorists get off the parkway safely --without being inconvenienced for a few hours? Would signage have helped?
Police Chief Chris McNerney has advised me that there is one other potential safety improvement that needs to be made. We have asked the state to install U-turn access on the center medians and the request has fallen on deaf ears. This is one possible solution to last night's problem. We have requested this for our EMS response on the parkway. In some cases, valuable time is lost having to go to the next exit to turn around.
The Sprain Parkway has experienced many accidents over the years including fatalities. We need to make the parkway safer. Something needs to be done. What would have happened if a more dangerous hazardous chemical accident had taken place and motorists had to be evacuated from the parkway faster?
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
enc copy of e mail
________________________________________
From: Joan >
Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2016 11:28 PM
To: Paul Feiner
Subject: Re: Motor Vehicle Accident on Sprain Parkway
Get some police assistance to Sprain!
Have been sitting for over 3 hours. Now people , without police direction , are driving in opposite direction! Ver dangerous !!!
Sent from my iPhone
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