Struthers installs four-way stop, receives mixed reactions

June 24, 2013 at 7:24p.m.

Study found that intersection had high frequency of accidents

Traffic signs in Struthers garner negative reactions

STRUTHERS

Less than a week after the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of state Route 616, Fifth Street and Lyon Boulevard, the vast majority of comments from Mohammad Asif’s customers have been negative.

“A lot of people are complaining,” said Asif, who owns the Shell gas station on Route 616. “They’re not expecting it. No one likes the stop sign, but something is necessary at the intersection.”

Asif said he’d seen several accidents occur at the intersection prior to the installation of the multi-way stop. Many of them involved a driver’s failure to stop at one of the two existing stop signs at either the east leg of 616 or Lyon Boulevard, he said.

The four-way stop just doesn’t make much of a difference, Asif said, adding that he noticed an accident soon after its installation. A traffic light or even a three-way stop, with a stop sign added to Fifth Street, might be more effective, he said.

“The four-way stop is not necessary,” Asif said. “[Drivers are] not noticing it. They don’t even realize what’s going on until they’re in the middle of the intersection.”

City officials, however, said they’ve heard both positive and negative comments about the new multi-way stop.

“I’ve had people call me up and thank me. I’ve had people call me up and call me names,” said Ed Wildes, safety service director. “We plan to monitor it, and are open to suggestions. It’s here to stay.”