By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
You can't see cars that are coming over the bridge, retired New York City fire fighter Vincent Dado said. Since the bridge railing is solid stone, there is limited visibility at the intersection of Clark and Pine Street. Making a left hand turn onto Pine Street is dangerous, and almost impossible, some residents said.
People come flying over that bridge and I don't think they took that into consideration, Dado said. They should have made it something that you could see through.
City officials met with residents at the Maple Boulevard Firehouse on Monday, Jan. 14, to discuss various problems with the newly constructed bridge, including the visibility issue.
With their sight restricted, residents said cars must creep into the intersection in order to see on-coming traffic. By the time a driver can see past the bridge, they are nearly half way into the intersection.
Some of the residents have asked that a stop sign be installed for the east-bound traffic on Pine.
We need a stop sign because nobody can see past the bridge. It's at eye level, Clark Street resident Neal Crowley said. Crowley believes they should have either used a guard rail or metal fencing for the bridge.
Long Beach Police Department Sgt. Eugene Brown, who is studying the problem, said a stop sign at the base of the bridge is not being considered. Since drivers would also have limited visibility coming over the bridge towards the stop sign, it could create a potential hazard, especially if rain, snow and speed become a factor.
The Clark Street bridge has a temporary walkway, but completion of a permanent walkway is scheduled for the end of the month, Sgt. Brown said.
We are concerned with the safety of the residents in the area, Sgt. Brown said. Sgt. Brown said the city is considering changing the direction of the street to south bound, taking traffic away from Pine.
We are going to attempt to come to a solution that would be the most safe and satisfactory solution for the people of the community, Sgt. Brown said.
Linda Baldwin, who lives on Clark Street, is concerned that as long as things are left as they are, the bridge is an accident waiting to happen, especially for kids riding their bikes.
It's extremely dangerous, Baldwin said. Who ever designed this thing didn't know what they were doing.
