Traffic light approved for Bellmore Avenue

After two decades of advocating for safer conditions at a nearby intersection, the residents of Davenport Place and Alice Avenues are getting their long-desired traffic light.

The two streets intersect with Bellmore Avenue on opposite sides of the busy, four-lane road, and turning onto it is dangerous, residents have reported. Bellmore Avenue curves at the intersection, which obscures sightlines and has led to several accidents in recent few months.

“I’m completely thrilled,” said Fredda Schildt, a Davenport Place homeowner who has fought for a light for over 20 years. Schildt has told the Herald Life about her firsthand experience at the corner — including witnessing several hits and many near misses.

Calls for the traffic light increased when Nassau County Police Officer George Day was hit at the intersection while riding his motorcycle on July 6. Another accident occurred in early August, the day after the Herald Life published the first story on the homeowners’ plight. Then, on Sept. 15, a car crash-landed on resident Ashley Umanzor’s front lawn.

Following Day’s accident, a petition was posted on Change.org urging neighbors to reach out to their municipalities and elected officials and call for a traffic light. On Oct. 17, that petition was closed — yielding nearly 900 signatures — with a final message declaring, “Victory!”

Some of the residents’ letters were sent to the office of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, catching her attention.

“After the community observed numerous accidents, I requested that the Department of Public Works conduct a traffic study for the intersection,” Curran said in a recent statement. “The results of the department’s study concluded that the best course of action is the installation of a traffic signal at this intersection. The safety and wellbeing of Nassau’s residents is my main priority, and I thank the community members for bringing this to my attention.”

A letter from Curran’s office announcing the approval was first sent to North Bellmore Civic Council President Sarah Chun, who joined residents in calling for the light in recent months. She said that she and other parents would actively avoid the intersection when driving or walking to the nearby schools.

Letters of support were also sent out by Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, State Sen. John Brooks and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. County Legislator Tom McKevitt, a Republican from East Meadow, helped move the Department of Public Works’ traffic study along.

“The hard work by local residents produced results,” said Anthony Eremitaggio, another Davenport resident and parent who has advocated for a traffic light. “It’s nice to see the county put safety first.”

Chun added that the result is a “testament to civic involvement.”

Traffic studies of the intersection had been conducted in the past, but concluded that a traffic light was unnecessary. Other changes were made instead — no parking near the corners, the removal of some trees and the installation of “Children at Play” signs — but the accidents continued, despite an existing light at the Bellmore Road intersection just south of Davenport.

Nassau County is now initiating the design, and the traffic light is expected to be installed in 2020.

“Look, I’ve been waiting 25 years,” Schildt said. “I can wait six months — I just hope no one else is injured.”