Driving around campus is becoming quite the challenge for both students and employees of Oswego State. It is nearly impossible to avoid the construction being done along Route 104 in front of the campus’s main entrance. The purpose of the construction is to add sidewalks to the side of West Seneca Street, making it safer for those walking to and from campus.
There is no doubt that this is a great idea that benefits students. However, while the sidewalks are being put in, the construction workers’ safety is important. Therefore, a border of traffic cones runs down the stretch of road, causing drivers to merge lanes at multiple points.
There is even one lane completely closed at some points, causing vehicles on one side to stop and wait while the others pass by. Both the curved borders and an abundance of traffic lights have caused traffic to slow down greatly on the busy road. This means drivers passing through will be spending more time in their cars, especially in the late afternoon when many are heading home from work. Those who have experienced driving during that time around know it may not be New York City, but it is still exceptionally busy.
From firsthand experience as a driver on Route 104, it is essential for drivers to be on their toes when driving around this area. There could be drivers on the road that may not be aware of the multiple lane changes, making it important to pay close attention when behind the wheel. The parts of the road that have traffic cones on both sides of the lane make it very narrow for drivers.
What makes both of those even more of a problem is the fact the speed limit is 40 mph. Cars often go that speed or faster when passing through, which could potentially cause a substantial accident. This particular problem is worse during the later hours of the day when workers are not on the road to hold caution signs. A definite solution to increase safety would be to reduce the speed limit in the area to 30 mph or perhaps even lower, as well as have a police car on patrol to watch for any vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
The challenges of driving in Oswego do not only exist in that area. Another potentially hazardous situation for drivers occurs when heading west around sunset. It is not hard to guess why this may be a problem; the sun can easily obstruct drivers’ vision. This is especially an issue when it comes to seeing the traffic lights, since the overpowering light from the sun makes them very difficult to see. A quick fix to this would be to install new lights with strobes so drivers can pick off which light is on.
Photo: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian
