By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
It took just a few minutes for Sea Isle City officials to see just how hectic the intersection of 44th Street and Central Avenue can become while they were standing nearby.
One SUV on Central ran right through a stop sign, while another driver made a wrong turn onto 44th before realizing he was heading in the opposite direction on the one-way street.
“Did you see that? I was standing right here in my uniform,” Police Chief Anthony Garreffi said in astonishment of the SUV that blew the stop sign.
Hoping to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians, Sea Isle is overhauling the busy intersection with a series of changes to a small flashing red light, stop signs and traffic markings.
Garreffi noted that police will also continue with their aggressive enforcement of traffic laws at the intersection as another step to maintain safety.
“It has the potential to be dangerous if they don’t stop,” Garreffi said of motorists. “This is an intersection where we do a lot of enforcement.”
Ultimately, the city would like to install a full-fledged traffic light at the intersection in place of the existing flashing red light. But first, a study must be done to see if a regular traffic light is warranted, Mayor Leonard Desiderio said.
During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Desiderio reported that the city has already made improvements to the intersection in response to concerns that were raised two weeks ago by a Sea Isle resident, Alexis Keefer, and her grandfather, Thomas Keefer.
The Keefers appeared at the June 13 Council meeting to speak about the challenges that Alexis has while traveling around town in her wheelchair, particularly when she crosses the intersection of 44th and Central, not far from her home on 43rd Street.
“Luckily, I’m careful when I go out … but this is a struggle,” Alexis told the Council members.
Council President Mary Tighe assured the Keefers that the city would do whatever it can to improve pedestrian safety and access throughout town.
Alexis and her grandfather urged city officials to consider installing a regular traffic light at the intersection of 44th and Central, but were told that Sea Isle would first have to conduct a study.
In the meantime, the city has begun immediate changes to the intersection to make it safer for motorists and pedestrians. Right after the June 13 Council meeting, Desiderio and Garreffi met with Sea Isle’s traffic maintenance supervisor, Brian Teefy, at the intersection to discuss their plans.
Since then, a new bulb has been installed in the overhead flashing red light at the intersection to make it more visible, Desiderio said.
The city has also improved visibility at the intersection by expanding the no-parking zones near 44th and Central. Yellow lines indicating no-parking zones have been extended.
Also, new white lines for the pedestrian crosswalks have been repainted. The city will also repaint the words “Stop Ahead” on the road to give drivers more warning that they are approaching the intersection.
The city also plans to install stop signs that include LED red flashing lights at all four corners of the intersection. The new stop signs are being ordered.
Desiderio said word is already getting out that the city is improving the intersection and is serious about enforcing the traffic laws – especially if drivers blow through the stop signs.
“I’ve noticed that people are stopping, and that police enforcement is stepping up,” he said in an interview Tuesday after the Council meeting.
