Drivers ignore the rules of the road, putting others at risk

May 2, 2008 5:18 p.m. CHICOPEE, Mass. Most of you are probably guilty of doing it at least once.

[Ken]

Interesting article. I seem to remenber this section of the highway under reconstruction not that long ago. It was my understanding the purpose of the reconstruction was to redesign the roads for a safer flow of traffic. I must have missed something but it appears all they did was tear up the roads, and pay a contractor to put them back.
I missed something, we would not have done that, or would we?

[Thomas]

Pretty weak reporting. First of all you only cross 2 lanes to exit. You fail to mention that the traffic on 91 south is typically traveling 15 to 20 mph over the limit (50 mph). If the speed limit on 91 south in downtown was enforced the crossing could be done safely. You don't have to look hard to find some real hazards just look at the Agawam rotary (about 4 accidents a week) or the deadly Chicopee curve. In light of whats happened there. Have people slowed down?

[Patrick]

If you drive that road long enough, you will find that even the State Police occasionally are guilty of this infraction. The only way to really stop it would be to put divider markers all along the solid line, like the ones they have up on Route 2 to separate the lanes from each other. People do this beacuse there really isnt a viable exit to reach downtown from there, you have to drive around by Mt carmel, or get off before the end of 291 and drive the back way by the main post office. Not sure what the real answer is, but some speed enforcement on the 91 south side of it would probably help prevent some accidents.

[Concerned Citizen]

I think if they put up a barrier along the solid white line where your not sapose to cross over that would stop the cars from crossing over the 2 lanes of traffic and causing a major acident. I also feel even if they inforced the speed limit in that section without putting up the barrier that would not help to prevent some accidents.

[Guy From Springfield]

I spoke to a friend of the son of the guy that helped design I-91 through Springfield. Simply put: they screwed up. This stretch of road is an example.

I think Springfield should do what Boston did: bury I-91 underground. It would connect the downtown to the riverfront, which is currently being divided by the highway. And to be fair, make Boston pay for it with service cuts to the eastern part of the state so they know how we felt when it came to pay for the "big dig".

[Suddadog]

Guy From Springfield wrote:

I spoke to a friend of the son of the guy that helped design I-91 through Springfield. Simply put: they screwed up. This stretch of road is an example.
I think Springfield should do what Boston did: bury I-91 underground. It would connect the downtown to the riverfront, which is currently being divided by the highway. And to be fair, make Boston pay for it with service cuts to the eastern part of the state so they know how we felt when it came to pay for the "big dig".

I totally agree. I was sick of hearing about the big dig. You have topay for the big dig. O I got pulled over to pay for the big dig. The turnpike tolls are for the big dig. Now where is all that money going too? I bet we're still paying for the big dig!

[Dean]

Thomas wrote:

Pretty weak reporting. First of all you only cross 2 lanes to exit. You fail to mention that the traffic on 91 south is typically traveling 15 to 20 mph over the limit (50 mph). If the speed limit on 91 south in downtown was enforced the crossing could be done safely. You don't have to look hard to find some real hazards just look at the Agawam rotary (about 4 accidents a week) or the deadly Chicopee curve. In light of whats happened there. Have people slowed down?

Well the article said "faded white line". I went by there yesterday and could barely see the line there at all! How areout of area drivers breaking the law when there is no line!

[Daniel]

solid white line is fading that's probably one of the problems.

[Pauline]

I understand there a problem but there no way to get to West Springfield, Memorial Bridge from 291 except to cross over the 3 lanes.
I watch the traffic and if its safe I'll cross. Sometimes the traffic won't let you. Its a long, out of the way to get to the bridge. you have to get off the next exit (if the the cars will let you in) double back go a # of miles to get in more traffic before you even get to the right lane to go over the bridge. Its such a long way around you can understand why people will try crossing.

[Offender]

I wanted to driveby to get on camera, ha! But yes I am one of those who cross to get to exit 7. Or I'll even be on 91S and cross the solid white line to get into the left lane to pass. But it is a major accident prone problem. Thanks 22 for making the public aware.

[Mass Traveler]

Traffic On 91 Is Crazy AnyHow..I Travel From Greenfield To Springfield Every Day And There Is Zero Cosideration For Others....You Go 75MPH And People Look At You Like
A Jerk For Going Too Slow....They Tailgate And Blow By You At 85Mph...
Alot Of Autos With Ct Or Ny Plates Going To Vt/Nh For The Weekend Go Flying Up The Highway...WHERE IS STATE POLICE ???Keeping These Drivers In Check....

[Chris]

I go by the 91 crossover from 291 every day on my way home. As a matter of fact, my husband once did the same thing that I have seen so many others do.......I screamed at him, "Do you see that SOLID LINE?!! You must need to go back to driving school because last I checked you can not go over a solid line!!" Needless to say.... he never did that again.

[DUDE]

Why don't we report on something more important? You touched on this several weeks ago. Looks like you just wanted to set up another camera. Now you have to justify it. Waste of time.

[Kevin Springfield]

If the roads were engineered correctly in the first place we would never have these issues. Why is there no other way to get to that exit other than breaking the law, or dealing with the really messed-up downtown roads.

[Jay]

I find it strange that i was called for jury duty last week and the directions to the court house that I recieved in my packet instructed me to merge onto 91 from 291, take exit 7, and follow the signs to State Street. If this is an illegal and/or dangerous route, why is the State providing me with these directions?

[Jack]

What about the Springfield Main Library? Trying to walk across State Street to from the parking lot to the library is dangerous! There is no crosswalk there and people have to get across 4 lanes of traffic to get to the library!

[Spfld Resident]

Check-out Roosevelt to bay street the left lane suddenly turns into a left turn lane and a new right lane opens up but the right line stays straight. When anyone gets killed the "law" always blames it on speeding. Not stupid road design.

[Mike DiMauro]

Thank you so much for doing this new story! There should be a barrier so that people can not cross three lanes of traffic like that to exit. I remember for a time when Route 2 in Hartford merged onto I-84 West like that and it was hard for people to cross three lanes of traffic to get onto I-91 North. They ended up building a ramp, so that problem would not happen again. They should do that with this onramp. It's a dangerous traffic hazard and I would like to see action done to make it safe for people.

[Chris Lucia]

Repainting the solid line would be a start, if you're not from the area you'd never know not to change lanes on the merge, since the lines are so faded.

[Joe]

Ypu should do the exit before

I've had cars behind me and then pass me on the right as if they are going to Rte 291, then swerve infront of me