Dear Mr. Phillips,
On Aug. 26, I wrote to Mr. Nelson concerning pedestrian access at
Johnson and Charter. Afterward you responded, the contractor
made an extremely half-hearted effort at a pedestrian path, which
quickly became blocked by barricades and barrels. Despite the
fact that most of the concrete pavement on either side of the
intersection was completed some time ago, fencing still prevented
pedestrians and bicyclists from crossing anywhere except in or very
close to the single gravel lane shared with vehicles. Yesterday,
a bicyclist was seriously injured in this lane when run over by a
bus. I believe the contractor should be held responsible for
this tragedy, as it clearly could have been prevented if the
contractor had made a small effort to provide safe pedestrian and
bicycle crossings at that intersection. Thousands of pedestrians
and bicyclists cross at that intersection every day, and the failure
to provide a safe crossing in inexcusable.
When I visited the intersection a short time ago, about 17 hours
after the bicyclist was injured, the contractor had apparently finally
removed enough fencing that pedestrians could cross on the new
pavement well away from traffic. Bicyclists, however, were still
forced into the gravel lane with traffic because there were no gravel
ramps at the edges of the new pavement. There are still no
warning signs for motorists or bicyclists.
I urge you to see that safe pedestrian and bicycle crossings are
provide at Charter St., as well as at other intersections, during the
rest of the Johnson St. construction period.
Scott
Ellington
Madison, Wisconsin USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Madison, Wisconsin USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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The construction inspector had noticed the lack of good pedestrian access at these intersections as well and has ordered the cross walks to be made safe. Expected to happen today.
The special provisions require this but apparently the contractor has not been doing it in accordance with the contract provisions.
>>> Scott Ellington <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 08/26/03 04:33PM >>>
>Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 13:54:00 -0500
>To: Larry Nelson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From: Scott Ellington <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Johnson and Charter
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>Dear Mr. Nelson,
>
>The Johnson St. contractors have recently blocked all possible
>pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Johnson and Charter, as
>well as at Mills St. These are both very heavily used by
>pedestrians, who now must walk in the street with the vehicles, or
>take a very long detour. There are no signs warning motorists, no
>reduced speed limits, etc. While I can understand the need of the
>contractors to restrict access to parts of their work area, there is
>no excuse for endangering pedestrians in the process. There are
>many ways to solve the problem, though all will require some finite
>amount of effort. In the interest of keeping pedestrians from
>getting injured, I believe this effort is justified.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Scott Ellington
>
>--
>
>Scott Ellington
>Madison, Wisconsin USA
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
