What's the Most Dangerous Intersection in Somerville?
Tell us the most dangerous intersection in Somerville. Let's see if there's a consensus.
According to a Massachusetts Department of Transportation report issued in August, 2011, three intersections in Somerville were among the worst 200 in the state for crashes.
- Around Mystic Avenue and McGrath Highway was the worst, at number 30 on the list
- The intersection of Somerville Avenue and Bow Street, in Union Square, was number 125 on the list
- The intersection of Broadway and Alewife Brook Parkway was number 185 on the list
We all know there are other dangerous intersections in Somerville.
Some attract speeding trucks. Others might have broken traffic lights. Maybe parked cars are always blocking your line of sight, or you can't see bicyclists coming around the corner, or there are tons of potholes, or the stop signs aren't angled in the right direction.
I, for one, think Powder House Rotary has got to be one of the worst in Somerville: Confusing for cars, terrifying for pedestrians, rarely used by bicyclists—and if there's a service at the funeral home, forget about it.
Let us know what intersection you think is the worst in Somerville, and we'll post a recap soon.
Courtney O'Keefe
4:13 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Broadway and Medford in Magoun Square. The lights facing the CVS parking lot are parallel with the lights facing Dexter Street. When they are green, cars drive directly into one another.
mark
7:20 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
McGrath Highway and Washington Street is nasty for pedestrians and cyclists. It would be awesome if the State would use the $11Million that they want to spend on the overpass to fix the problems on the ground... and take the overpass down!
mplo
8:57 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I agree with you, mark. That overpass is a monstrosity, it creates a great many dangers for walkers and bikers, people drive too fast on it, plus, as a woman, I don't feel particularly safe walking under that overpass at night. Moreover, that overpass looks like it could collapse at any time; the rusty steel frames are exposed, and the concrete has clearly lost its integrity. The intersection of Medford Street, Linwood Street and the overpass are totally unsafe. That overpass needs to go. The state's taking the easy way out by just simply repairing the thing, when it clearly must be taken down to make the area a more pedestrian/biker-friendly intersection and to connect our area with the rest of Somerville.
Pauline Lim
3:00 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I agree with mark. Brickbottom residents call the ramp up to McGrath "Scary Way", because we have to walk under it to get home. People dump all sorts of trash underneath it, and the traffic island between the Herb Chambers off-ramp and the McGrath on-ramp is always littered with broken glass and rusty metal scraps. Right now there is a pile of dirty blankets and a shopping cart where some homeless guys were camping out.
Charlie Denison
7:41 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
McGrath Highway/Fellsway and Mystic Ave/I-93. This whole area is confusing for motorists and practically unnavigable for pedestrians and bicyclists!
Sarah Kerrigan
7:10 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I agree! Especially coming of 93N and trying to merge onto Mystic Ave, in either direction.
Lucas Rogers
10:49 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Central and Highland is much smaller than the other intersections mentioned, but cramped, fast, and nasty. I believe it was found to be the most dangerous intersection in Ward 3 in Somerville. It should really be much more friendly for pedestrians.
cp kostos
4:54 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Powder House Circle.....Pedestrian nightmare. Confusing for cars, bikes, and pedestrians.
JJ
9:33 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Totally agree with Powder House Circle. A roundabout with traffic lights? C'mon. Two back-to-back red lights and suddenly traffic is backed up down every street leading to it. Make it a proper roundabout. Stop signs I can see, but traffic lights just makes it a really poorly designed intersection.
mplo
10:21 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
It sure is, cp kostos!
Jenn-D
7:18 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Bow & Somerville Ave with the new, stupid, backwards, angle parking through the wide bike path. Really it is just a matter of time before someone gets killed and a lot of Somerville resident will be saying "I told you so..."
mplo
10:20 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Good point, jennifer D. The new angle parking through the bike lane is an extremely stupid gimmick on the part of the city. A lot of people in this area drive badly enough so that such a project adds to an already-dangerous situation, if one gets the drift.
mplo
5:58 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Good points well taken, Pauline! I don't even feel particularly safe walking underneath the "Scary Way" during daylight hours, so I take the long way when I walk. When I bicycle under it, I go as quickly as I can.
Jackie Lane
1:04 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Personally, I think the intersection of Cameron Ave. and Holland Ave is a bit of a disaster. I've seen lots of cars pulling out of Cameron screetch on their brakes b/c you can't see cars coming from up the Holland Ave hill. They need a "no parking from here til corner" sign to allow cars to see to the left.