Money is main obstacle as solution to Meredith traffic woes nears Consensus
from the Laconia Daily Sun
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I have no trouble navigating from 25 to 104. Just take 25B to 3 to Waukewan Rd to Winona Rd to 104. If it is in anyway going to be congested in Meredith, this longer route is faster. No problem and no money has to be spent.
I should be in government. :laugh: NOT! |
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Shhhhh, if too many people learn this it will be worse than Meridith. I think round abouts will be a disaster with the amount of traffic that use these intersections in the summer. I think a by-pass from the top of the hill on 25, near the high school, around to the west of downtown Meredith, to 104 is the answer and would shunt 80% of the thru traffic out of the area. |
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By the way, the Laconia bypass was never finished. It was supposed to continue to the Weirs. I'm glad it didn't as the Weirs will be a disaster. Where it ends near Rte 11 is perfect! |
Roundabouts alone will not solve the problem. Pedestrian traffic also needs to be addressed. I have often noticed that cars are waiting at green lights to turn left from rt25, waiting for pedestrians to cross rt3 at the boat ramp, or in front of the town docks.
I remember reading the research documents a while ago, and a pedestrian tunnel or bridge was proposed. What happened to that? if that doesn't happen, then a bypass should be considered. |
Building a decorative garden in the new roundabout center circle with a great-big huge, granite & cement, artist's replica of the Old Man of the Mountain would do it up good! You know ..... Paris has their www.arcdetriompheparis.com .... and Meredith will have a two lane roundabout with the Old Man in the middle .... Viva La Meredith! .... and place the new Meredith roundabout on the map!
Plus, building an Old Man of the Mountain commemorative replica in the roundabout center can be done with volunteer money contributions or donated individual money after the new two-lane roundabout is built by the NH-Dept of Transportation. Just imagine that great big intersection as a two-lane roundabout that has no traffic stoplights ....... viva la Meredith "Old Man of the Mountain" roundabout! http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old...f_the_Mountain ......... While the relatively new roundabout at Weirs Beach is pretty ugly, the Meredith roundabout up top of sunset hill is very attractive. So, what's the difference? The poured concrete inner concentric circle of smooth concrete at Weirs Beach is just plain ugly compared to the granite blocks used in Meredith. Lord only knows what they were thinking down at the Laconia technical roundabout review board when they decided to go with smooth concrete? |
No way, they're all ugly! :coolsm:
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Fll
I think FLL is saying if they 'fancy up' the roundabouts they will need to hire a maintenance man. They can hire FLL if they get around to it! :D
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A roundabout at route 3/25 would be a disaster. Never mind the multiple properties that would have to be torn down. With loss of tax revenue to the town of Meredith. A bypass behind the high school is the smartest way. But being smart will not prevent the roundabout advocates to pursue their more roundabouts desires. |
Laconia Daily Sun 9/19/14
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I don't think the tunnel ideas is so terrible it just needs a unique set of eyes. I am sure there is more to it and I litterly just thought of this. but a natural place for a tunnel is with the bridge, all the utilities are sucked up towards asphalt grade and they are insulated. I am sure that bridge will need reconstruction at some point so why not raise the grade 5-6 feet or what ever would be required. Give it a nice arch, maybe a York bridge to look like a old covered wood bridge. And have the tunnel just be a man bridge under the bridge near the conveniently some what consistent water height. The Ada problem is solved on the lake side since the path there is so close to that grade any way and on the other side it could be integrated into the bridge abutment.
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traffic
Just let the same group that's been working on rt. 93 do it!
Like the traffic there, Wolfeboro or any tourist attraction in the state,year after year it gets more busy but everyone wants THEIR area to be unchanged.Like DC gridlock |
Traffic
"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."
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Looking at your sketch it seems like this might work. Have a slow incline to the bridge and then have the bridge arch over the tunnel.
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A roundabout there will be a disaster on a Sunday afternoon when you have a constant flow of traffic working through it heading out of Center Harbor. Other people trying to enter the flow will be kept out as their beeped at by cars behind them wishing they would "just go!" Maybe what's there now isn't ideal but the lights at least make some cars stop so others can go. I'm for re-routing traffic totally away from that intersection and giving a second alternative if it's possible. I also take my chances with 25B from time to time. I try to gauge how Meredith will be from the backup at the Red Hil Dari lights. When that's all backed up you know Meredith will be a disaster. The preferred option is to go home Monday at around noon time. :D
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Not one.....but THREE rotaries!!
Laconia Daily Sun
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You have got to be kidding me. You talk about a backup of traffic now? We will see!!
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What's with NH & building Roundabouts ?
I just don't get it ! :confused: . |
I agree Phantom. I think it is somebody's bright idea which they will be sorry for in a few years.
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You can say what you want about the Weirs roundabout not being as nice looking as the one further up in Meredith, but it has worked nicely. Other than bike week I haven't seen too much traffic and what traffic there is, moves. Much better than the old intersection.
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Most of the traffic problems I see in that area are caused by an endless stream of pedestrians crossing the street from the docks to the gas station and to the falls complex, continually stopping traffic. A round about will do nothing to solve this issue.
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Rotaries definitely work. I was very skeptical of a recent one built in Bedford in front of the new Market Basket that I drive through 4 times a day but it really has worked. My question would be that the same pedestrian problem exists.
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agreed
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Even a "walk/don't walk" light at the cross-walks might help? At least it would get the pedestrians in a 'group' to cross, rather than the onesy-twosy effect now... Every Sunday night when we try to get out of town I say... "can't wait to be retired and don't have to drive through this" :) -PIG |
Build A Walking Bridge Over The Road
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Any Town official ever thought of a stylish "Foot Bridge" for crossing?
I think at the Dover St intersection across to the Town boat launch area would be a plus a hell of a lot cheaper and less disruptive than THREE rotaries ! . |
a footbridge will not be inexpensive...
Any footbridge like that would have to be ADA accessible and that means having ramps for handicapped folks. That would do away with the quaint footbridge. It would take a bridge with ramps, probably with switchbacks to get up and over the road. Bottom of bridge would have to be 14 or 15 feet above the road to allow the passage of semi trucks. Maybe even higher for the occasional oversized load. How about a monorail from both the Lago area and the Church Landing area, with a switch in the middle allowing the monorail to terminate at Mills Falls. Woo Hoo...what a ride!:laugh:
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If the pedestrian bridge went 50 yards up Dover street you would not need a ramp on that end. There is room for a ramp on the lake side and could look very attractive with lights ect. It would be a nice place to take in the views there would be no need for stairs
Level the vacant plaza on the north east corner of NH3 & 25 for a rotary. Traffic will flow. Prohibit pedestrians crossing NH3 at the south end of the town docks during the few peak hours of traffic . |
Public Input being solicited today....
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Just my 2 cents...This "solution" / proposal seems more about creating aesthetic value than a better flow of traffic. Parade rd could have been solved by adding a separate right hand turn "road/lane/ramp"(pick your word)...the issue there was playing chicken with folks who chose not to use the directional lever...
I ask, How can a proposal for 5 million dollars be accepted when included in the words are "not a solution" and we'll need more money for the property to dig up???? Imagine the fire dept needing to respond to ANYTHING north, much less east (N) on 25... From what I have read, it appears that a suggestion was whispered many yrs ago and now the focus is on how to make it happen. I beleive an effort to accept (via on line or snail mail) alternate, logical suggestions "outside the box" or from "Joe Public", would be more effective in solving this issue along with spending our tax dollars more effectively. "Goin round in circles" is just too ironic:laugh: |
Website
For people who would like to follow this closer, you can go to this website set up by the DOT. www.meredith3-25.com It will give you a better idea of what's proposed. I attended the meeting today, it was educational for sure. I will let you decide for yourselves on whether or not this is the answer for Meredith.
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Three roundabouts in the little Village of Meredith...too funny!
People who will be visiting Meredith in the summer will be going in circles wondering where they need to get off each roundabout. They will be saying: Where the heck am I???? |
Has the DOT or the advisory committee considered the impact of pedestrians on the overall summer traffic situation? It seems to me that they have only considered motor vehicles traffic. I agree with ITD.
In my opinion, any improvement or solution that does not include some way to get the pedestrians across the street with significantly less disruption of the motor vehicle traffic flow should be rejected. R2B Quote:
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In all seriousness, I looked at the map posted, and it looks like a good solution. Thanks WBB for the link.
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Meredith Roundabouts
I work in Laconia and live on Pleasant St in Meredith. I poo-poo'd the traffic circle on Rt 3 / 106 (Parade Rd) when it first went in. However, especially on a Friday evening, it has made my commute back to Meredith a very simple one vs. waiting and "playing chicken" with others coming down the hill on Rt 3 North.
Trying to leave Pleasant St. in the summer is next to impossible if you want to head towards town. I normally take a right, then pull into the Hannaford parking lot and exit towards town from there. The roundabout would be better than another traffic light and if it works as slick as the one on Rt 3 / 106, I'm all for it. |
IMO it will help the pedestrian flow but it might slow down the traffic flow.
I assume the pedestrians have the right away at each roundabout and the flow of autos will come to a halt each time someone uses the crosswalk. Tourist season should be interesting. Roundabouts can be good for auto traffic as long as crosswalks don't slow things down. |
I agree with Rusty. It seems like the crosswalks are a bit close to the roundabout exits and should make for some unwanted excitement. Many drivers will be watching for traffic signs designating their wanted exit and will not be expecting pedestrian traffic so close to the exits. My thought is that the crosswalk on the Southbound exit on Rte 3 should be eliminated from this plan and ped traffic be made to cross at the boat ramp area.
The plan as they have outlined now will create a huge jam in the roundabout itself, but this project may be years away and I'm sure these issues will be dealt with. |
After looking at the plan it seems to help with vehicle traffic flow for most of the time. But, what I see as the big issue is the crossing guards by the park and boat ramp because there will be no improvement to the traffic flow no matter how many round-a-bouts they build if the guards stay. The guards with the high volume of pedestrians are the biggest part of the problem on weekends when the traffic is at its highest. They need to come up with a better solution to getting the pedestrians across the street and keep traffic flowing.
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Keep it simple
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Something like this could work.:look:
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Flawed combination of cars and pedestrians
It seems to me there are going to be LOTS of accidents because the nature of roundabouts is to keep traffic moving. Once in it, people do not expect it to stop. Yet here it will because pedestrian crossings will require it to. People will enter the roundabout and then have to stop but won't expect to.
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walkovers
build walkovers over the road at the intersection and town docks
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There is a company out of Finland that is prototyping a pedestrian slingshot for high congestion areas. You get in a "basket" of sorts and it flings you over the intersection to a hydraulic platform on the other side that catches the basket and slows the momentum gently. It's also ADA compliant because you can roll a wheelchair in/out of the basket smoothly. I hear Meredith is going to have a temporary/demo unit setup during bike week.
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What about a walkway bridge OVER the traffic?? I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap but seems like a viable solution... Oh yeah, someone will complain about the view...:-(
Dan |
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http://www.meredith3-25.com/ 7. WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS? Each of the roundabouts will have pedestrian crosswalks. Each will be designed so that pedestrians will have to cross only one lane of traffic at a time and DOT believes that the slower traffic speeds through the roundabouts will permit pedestrians to safely cross without causing significant traffic delays. Also, a crosswalk will be placed at Dover St., but pedestrians will cross only one lane of Route 3 before reaching a center island and then crossing another single lane. Traffic will not have to stop in both directions at one time. A pedestrian tunnel and a bridge were considered and rejected as there is not enough space for graded walkways compliant with disabilities laws and both installation and town maintenance of these facilities would involve significant expense. |
Attitash Mtn Walkway
I bet they have not seen the walkway in front of the main lodge. I don't see how much real estate they nee to put one in if the ramps are perpendicular with the walkway.
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I doubt a bridge over the road would work unless you put up fences to keep people from jaywalking.
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Taking a left off Pleasant St, and onto Route 25, just across from the BarnZ Cinema in the summer, what with all the traffic, and those summer only - super skinny, yellow DOT hgwy cones is probably the single most dangerous traffic accident spot in the area. That is an accident just waiting to happen there, and can sometimes require mucho mucho lots of patience when there's five or more cars waiting at the GREEN light for the traffic to move forward there.
Re-constructing it into a roundabout will be a big big traffic safety improvement, plus it creates a new roundabout center spot for a decorative garden there too ..... what's not to like ... plus it's like 5-million dollars of federal, U.S. Dept Transportation gov money.... for all three new Meredith roundabouts ... and maybe zero local Meredith money .... after years and years of discussion! Viva Las Roundabout! Here's to using the same similar large granite cobble blocks that were used in the first Meredith roundabout a-top Sunset Hill, as opposed to using the dumb ugly, smooth concrete apron that got used at the Laconia-Weirs Beach roundabout. |
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ADA Design Standards
http://www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm
You will find it here. Very interesting reading. Currently standards for elevators are being revised. For more info see: https://www.iccsafe.org/cs/standards/A117/Pages/default.aspx?usertoken={token}&Site=icc From the link, go to bottom of the blue section for "Public Comments Report on Second Public Review Draft". It is on pg. 32, # 4-54-12, item #14 - Comment PC1.1. |
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Selectboard votes
After a long 4+ hr meeting, decidedly with most against the proposal. The Board voted 4 against, 1 abstaining. No new roundabouts in Meredith at this time!
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