|Debra Smith|
GPCOG (the Greater Portland Council of Governments) recently completed a traffic safety study of the Lower Village intersection and has made short term and longer term recommendations for improvements. The report will be discussed at the March 6 meeting of the Public Safety Working Group (comprised of the town manager, directors of the New Gloucester Public Works, Fire & Rescue, a representative of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and a retired game warden).This group’s recommendations will then go to the NG Select Board.
The study team collected the following data at the intersection:
• Sight distance through on-site measurement;
• Miovision traffic data including near misses using special equipment for one day; and
• Crash data- from the MDOT’s (Maine Department of Transportation) crash database.
FINDINGS
Sight distance
Measured sight distance was found to be adequate from Gloucester Hill Road to enter the intersection, unless traffic is moving faster than 35 MPH*. Traffic from Cobb’s Bridge Road does not have adequate sight distance to enter the intersection. (See recommendations below)
Crashes
Nine crashes have occurred in the intersection between 2019 and 2023. While this is not enough crashes to meet the state’s criteria for a “high-crash location,” 44% of the crashes that occurred in this location within the past five years resulted in injuries, whereas only 20% of all crashes in New Gloucester during that time period resulted in injuries. One crash involved a pedestrian injury. This intersection was identified as a critical safety intersection by GPCOG in the Vision Zero report for Rural and Island Communities. See slides here
Crash data from MDOT database
Miovision traffic data
The GPCOG team set up a Miovision recording device to collect data on traffic movement and near misses in the intersection in June 4, 2024 from 7am to 7pm. See article about Miovision here.
Miovision data on near misses
RECOMMENDATIONS
Short term improvements
• trim shrubs and trees that are within the sightline of Cobb’s Bridge Road.
Longer term improvements
• Maintain shrubs and trees to ensure adequate sightline
• The intersection sight distance from Gloucester Hill Road is not sufficient if a vehicle is moving more than 35 MPH on Rte 231. For this reason, GPCOG recommends two longer-term improvements:
√ All-way stop with Stop Ahead warning signs at all intersection approaches
√ Sidewalk (700 ft) along the easterly side of Rte. 231 from the Bell Tavern
to the Library
The GPCOG team suggests several funding sources to help meet the needs at this intersection.
You can read the full report here.
*A group of volunteers collected speed data at 18 locations throughout town in spring-fall 2023. Posted speed on Rte 231 through the Lower Village is 30 MPH. Vehicle speeds in front of Town Hall averaged 40 MPH, with 95% of drivers exceeding the speed limit.
At Rte 231 and Grange Hall Road, the average speed was 43, with 87% exceeding the speed limit.
