By:Jacky Gerzema
Accidents, delays at Pathmark entrance cause concern
Many Baldwin residents would like the county to shed a little light on their traffic concerns about the entrance to the Pathmark Supermarket on Grand Avenue.
Pat Jackson and others say they have heard about too many
accidents in the area and want something done. Jackson said traffic is so congested on Grand Avenue, he and others feel that it just isn't safe turning into or out of Pathmark's parking lot without a traffic signal.
"It is a terrible, terrible intersection," Jackson said. "Members of the police and fire departments and legislators are in agreement that there needs to be a traffic device."
Jackson took his concerns to Nassau County Legis. Joseph Scannell earlier this year, but when the legislator requested a survey of the area, he was turned down.
The Department of Traffic Engineering of Nassau County Public Works evaluated the area and found that it does not meet certain requirements for traffic-light installation, according to Scannell. One main requirement for the county to install a light is that there be an actual intersection of two main streets. Since Pathmark is a private shopping center, there is no two-street intersection, so a light cannot be installed with county funds.
An alternative would be for Pathmark to foot the bill for the four-stage process required for light installation. If Pathmark agrees to the initial surveying, planning, design and installation of the light, the county would agree to take over the maintenance, according to Scannell. The county would pay approximately $2,000 in maintenance, electricity and liability each year.
The legislator said he reached out to the company but has not received a response yet. Corporate headquarters did not return calls to the Herald prior to deadline for this article.
"I'm not satisfied with the county department's decision, so we're
looking for other alternatives to making that area safer," Scannell said.
While they wait for answers, many residents worry.
"You always have to second guess the other person who is driving when you're trying to pull out of the parking lot," resident Prudence Mullen said.
"This is a very busy intersection, especially now since this is the only supermarket around this area," resident Janice Harrington said. "If I'm making a left out of here [parking lot] and the light down the road to the left changes, I sometimes have to wait for 10 minutes or so before I'm able to pull out."
Even Pathmark employees say they understand the complaints. Workers Jeffrey Hersch and Sue McIntyre said there have been plenty of accidents near the parking lot area.
"I can think of eight to 10 times since I have worked here that a car has hit a pole in an accident and knocked out the power in the store," Hersch said. "There should be a double light put in that both lets people in and lets people out."
Carmela Ragucci, owner of Grand Unisex Hairstylists, in the
Baldwin Shopping Center across the street from Pathmark, knows firsthand how much a light is needed. "We store owners park near the street so customers can park near stores, and there was once a car accident at the Pathmark entrance where a car in the accident jumped the street curb and hit my car in this parking lot," Ragucci said. "Everybody always says, 'When are they going to put a traffic light there?'"
