Residents press council for Second Beach crosswalk; town engineers cite design and liability concerns

At the public forum March 17, resident Ruth Lesher urged the council to install a crosswalk at the Surfer’s Inn/Second Beach location before the summer season, citing heavy pedestrian movements from the parking lot and Paradise Avenue and concern for beachgoers’ safety.

Town Administrator Sean Brown responded that the town’s consulting engineer has examined the location multiple times but staff have not yet identified a design that would meet safety standards and mitigate liability. Brown said the area’s topography — a downhill approach with vehicles gaining speed — combined with multiple vehicle movements, parking configurations and pedestrian paths makes it difficult to add a crosswalk that will, in practice, be safer. He noted an existing crosswalk near the campground and recounted a prior serious crash involving a pedestrian on West Main Road that prompted a careful review of crosswalk siting and certification requirements (a certified professional engineer is typically required to sign off).

Brown said the town continues to work on possible solutions, including reconfiguring parking in the triangle, but that staff have not abandoned the issue. He asked for patience while engineers look for a design that “mitigates the liability associated with saying this is where you need to walk and it will be safe.” No council vote or directive to construct the crosswalk was recorded at the meeting.