Smithtown to redesign St. James street with added curves to slow traffic

Smithtown town officials plan to redesign Montclair Avenue in a St. James neighborhood where residents have complained about truck traffic, speeding vehicles and frequent car dealership test driving.

The town board Tuesday directed traffic safety director Mitchell Crowley to develop what's known as a chicane -- a road design that adds extra curves or features such as plantings to slow traffic -- for the roadway north of the town highway yard. Construction is targeted for the spring.

"I think this would be a good area to install a chicane because of some of the uniqueness of the road, in that you have a commercial side and a residential side," he said. "It would help to delineate that."

Crowley told the board at a work session that the project may cost nearly $100,000, depending on the design.

The effort comes after the town board decided in July against permanently closing Montclair Avenue between Jericho Turnpike and Rutherford Street, as several residents requested.

Closing the street would displace traffic to surrounding areas, officials said. A town traffic study found an average of 1,500 vehicles using Montclair Avenue each day, about 500 more vehicles than on comparable roadways, officials said.

Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said he asked Crowley about whether redesigning the road would create a precedent.

Crowley said the work wouldn't lead to similar projects in other areas because of the unique nature of Montclair Avenue -- having heavy truck traffic and sufficient space to add the curves that force drivers to slow down.

Crowley agreed to design the new roadway after first proposing hiring a consultant for $12,500.

"This would be essentially the first chicane ever being installed in the town, and I think it would be good to look at different options," Crowley said before deciding to design it himself. Councilman Robert Creighton challenged using a consultant.

Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick urged Crowley to include sufficient signage and lighting around the area to prevent accidents.

St. James resident Patricia McGovern urged the board late last month to construct the chicane, saying, "It is time for the board to take action and do something positive for the safety of the taxpaying families in our community."