Saugus installs new traffic signs near dangerous intersection

SAUGUS – Two new traffic signs on Main Street near the Lynn Fells Parkway are taking aim at what Police Lt. Stephen Sweezey is calling a serious problem.Sweezey said he has received numerous complaints from residents in the area concerned that a serious head on collision is imminent from people crossing the double lines.”We’ve had many calls about rush hour,” he said. “People don’t want to wait in line and they pass.”As drivers approach the Lynn Fells Parkway intersection they have two choices, one lane goes straight toward Howard Street and the other allows drivers to take a left onto the Lynn Fells toward Melrose.Sweezey said traffic becomes backed up at rush hour and instead of waiting their turn drivers planning to make the left are cutting out of traffic, essentially crossing the double line and speeding up to get into the turn lane. Making matters worse, he said, is the fact there is a little bend in the roadway making it harder to determine if anyone is coming south.”We’re going to have a head on collision,” Sweezey said.While there hasn’t been a collision yet, Sweezey said there have been several close calls.”We’ve had near misses and the resident directly across the street from the YMCA is afraid if we do have one the car will end up in his yard,” he said.He is hoping the signs will at least make some drivers think twice.The brightly colored greenish signs are posted on either side of the roadway. One is on the right just before the Saugus Family YMCA and the other on the left just after. Both signs warn drivers to keep right and not to pass on the double lined roadway.Town Meeting member Ray Lawrence, who drives the roadway regularly, spotted the signs nearly two weeks ago and approved wholeheartedly.”I think they’re a good idea,” he said. “When the traffic backs up there, people go across the double lines . . . it’s dangerous and someone is going to get hurt.”Lawrence said his only concern is that the signs won’t be effective.”They’re perfect,” he said. “I just don’t know who will enforce them.”