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Board approves three‑way stop at Daniels Avenue and Spithead Road after traffic safety study
Summary
After a traffic impact and safety assessment that identified limited sight distance, speeding and expected school traffic from the Friendship School, the Waterford Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to install stop signs on Spithead Road to create a three‑way stop and add warning/LED signage.
The Waterford Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously on April 13 to install stop signs on Spithead Road in both directions at its intersection with Daniels Avenue, creating a three‑way stop intended to reduce collision risk and improve safety before the Friendship School opens in Fall 2027.
Traffic Officer M. Devine presented a Traffic Impact & Safety Assessment Report that found available sight distance from the Daniels Avenue stop bar was marginal to inadequate for stopping sight distance, and that “actual operating speeds exceed posted limits, especially southbound.” The report included observed peak flows (Daniels Avenue exiting traffic at 66 vehicles/hour at 9 a.m. and 82 vehicles/hour at 4 p.m.; Spithead Road 141–245 vehicles/hour at peak periods) and projected school‑related activity of roughly 125+ vehicles per hour during drop‑off and pickup once the Friendship School opens.
Commissioner T. Sheridan moved—and Commissioner J. Dimmock seconded—the motion “to place stop signs on Spithead Road in both directions at the intersection of Daniels to create a three‑way stop, along with appropriate warning signage for the new stop signs.” The motion passed unanimously with the four commissioners present voting in favor; Commissioner R. Gamble was absent.
The board and traffic staff also discussed and the report recommended several supplementary measures to address speed and sight‑distance concerns: solar‑powered LED flashing lights on the new stop signs, MUCTD‑compliant warning signs, optical speed bars on the southbound approach, and a solar speed sign at the top of the hill. The report noted downhill grade and a right‑hand horizontal curve on the southbound approach, seasonal vegetation, and utility structures as contributors to the sight‑distance deficiency.
The board’s action directs staff to implement the posted stop controls and appropriate signage; the traffic report and its engineering recommendations were entered into the record for future reference. The board did not record additional conditions or a phased timeline in the minutes; implementation details and exact installation dates were not specified at the meeting.
