WEST PARIS — Selectmen will seek the state’s opinion on where to place traffic signs on several town-controlled rural roads.
Selectmen on Thursday night directed Town Manager John White to ask the Maine Department of Transportation for advice on whether it should place stop signs at an intersection one resident described as “dangerous.”
Selectmen mulled a proposal to place a stop sign at the intersection of Ellingwood and Forbes roads; a yield sign at the top of Morse Hill and Tuelltown Road; move the location of the yield sign for the intersection of Morse Hill and Benson Hill roads onto Benson Hill; and place a stop sign where Kingsbury and Pioneer streets meet.
The placements are intended to ease traffic flow or otherwise improve safety conditions for drivers, selectmen said.
Referencing a conversation with Maine DOT Community Service Division Director Peter Coughlan, White said although Maine law permits municipalities to set local regulations for town-controlled roads, it does recommend basic guidelines to ensure safety.
However, White noted that it appeared those regulations were scaled for larger communities with dense traffic and were overly strict for a rural setting.
One resident questioned placing a stop sign at Ellingwood Road, telling selectmen it was difficult for cars perched at the crest joining with Tuelltown Road to see oncoming traffic, and would likely remain precarious unless a stop sign was placed at Forbes Road, along with a yield sign on Tuelltown.
“Nobody yields, nobody stops,” the resident said. “I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
Selectman Wade Rainey did not disagree with the proposal, but said the arrangement would break up the flow of traffic.
The town will consult with Maine Department of Transportation before making changes.
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