Two-way traffic is scheduled to begin downtown, on Main and Irving streets, this week. In addition to those one-way streets becoming two-way, several one-way side streets (East Cherry and Coach) will reverse direction while another that’s currently two-way (Poplar) will become one-way toward Irving; so all three will flow toward Irving.
Striping is scheduled to be done Monday evening and signs will be uncovered for Tuesday morning when the change is officially expected to occur. If there’s an issue, it could be pushed back a day, said Police Chief John Rodger, but the goal is to have it completed before the holiday weekend.
Cones will run the length of Irving and Main so motorists will have to stay in one lane, reinforcing the pattern change, according to Rodger, and Traffic will have a heavy presence downtown during the transition. The cones will be removed in phases, he added, to continually reinforce the patterns for a period of time.
When merchants were surveyed last year about changing traffic patterns downtown, most were in favor.
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I know there is worry about people adpating to the new changes but I’m sure it will be fine. I think if anything making those one way streets into 2-ways make sense. This past weekend I was almost in an accident because a motorist slightly ahead of me on my right going north on Main St suddenly turned to make a left on Poplar. I had to slam my brakes to prevent hitting him. Turns out he wasn’t from the area and didn’t know Main St. was one way. So I think if anything the changes will be more ‘normal’ to people not familiar with the area.Speaking of road changes, has anyone seen the change they made to the roundabout in Clark near the Parkway entrance. I still haven’t figured that one out.
Anyone know when Irving and Main first became one way streets? 30 years ago? 40 years ago? Longer?
“Turns out he wasn’t from the area “pulled him over and had a chat, eh?
well i saw scott pull him out of his car and beat him up….ok kidding..I’ve had a few people try to cut me off and make a left from the right lane on main street. I guess people don’t notice these wonderfully colored lines and patterns that each represent something. And to think all the trouble the DOT went through coming up with such an intricate system.
It does’nt matter if they changed the two lane one way. today i saw a @ss hole make a left hand turn from the right lane on st georges ave and cut off a guy on a motorcycle. the guy on the motercycle was in the left hand lane. the poor guy on the cycle hit the front of the truck as it made the left hand turn from the right lane in front of dunkin donuts and he went crashing to the ground in a slide toward the car lot. he didn’t move after he came to a stop. so it does’nt matter you still have morons cutting people off no matter what the roads directions are going or where they are.
James TK, downtown traffic was made one-way in the early 1950s…I’m not sure of the exact year.
Hey how about a pole on how many accidents will happen after the road direction change.lol. you can add deaths,injurys,old or young..ect.hehe. rahways death race 2008,ahahaha!
Maybe they could use the people who “run” the parking gargage as traffic cones!
I think the traffic changes will be great once people get used to them. It will make Rahway seem like a more normal town, simplify the flow of traffic, and maybe actually create less mishhaps and accidents in the long run. People drive like idiots regardless of what the lines and signs say. A nice smooth paving over the whole town would be great instead of patches everywhere too.
What a joke this mornig turned out two be. instead of opening the roads with a couple of cops directing the traffic at the light so they could get them in sync. they kept them closed. instead they kept the cops at all the cloed off steets getting overtime and waisting taxpayers money. there was no need. how many cops does it take to screw in a light bulb? open the road and just let the two cops direct traffic,come on. it’s not like the rest of the downtown had lights on every corner. many of the buiesnesses were not happy with keeping the roads closed to customers so long.
Btw, if you’d like to know the story I was cursing the guy out for almost killing me and my wife when he shouted he was sorry he wasn’t from here. Glad you have taken an interest in the story though.I agree with the last comment. How difficult is it to put some lines in the street? I got off the train at 6:30pm last night and see 5 cops standing around with about 4 city employees as they BS. No work was being done. No lines were painted. As much as it is a complete waste of time though we did do this to ourselves. If someone did get into an accident they would sue the city claiming the town didn’t do enough preparation, even though they are just bad drivers.
I drove thru town today. Not bad. Seems to make sense. The only problem is that there seems to be a stop sign every block?????
Any word on street closures for the coming July 4th / 150 Year celebration this weekend? Will navigating downtown by car be a nightmare?
The fireworks are at Greenfields so downtown should not be awful. The street in front of my house will not be any fun however.
Those stop signs on Irving are too much, the city obviously doesn’t want people to use Irving to get across town. It’s now not a city street but another residential neighborhood!Ending the parking on Main between Milton and Lewis makes it even harder to use downtown businesses, particularly the Post Office.The city doesn’t really want business to grow downtown and now with all those stop signs, there’s less downtown than there was before.
I took a walk up Main and down Irving this morning. It’s appalling how much parking is gone.
To anonymous @ 6:18pm. I understand what you are saying but I believe they don’t want drivers hitting parked cars. Why wouldn’t they want businesses to thrive?
“Why wouldn’t they want businesses to thrive?”Because they made no plans for more parking.