The NY State Department of Transportation announced recently the completion of the Highway Safety Investigation in the town of Elbridge. The investigation was launched in response to a letter from town supervisor Ken Bush, dated late October 2007, in which Bush expressed concerns associated with intersections of Route 5 and Hamilton Road and Route 5 and East Brutus Street Road (Old Route 31B).

Bush said the letter was written in response to resident’s concerns.

After a while, you hear these things and it causes you to ask the state to review, Bush said.

A review of recent accident data revealed several crash patterns along Route 5, according to the DOT. The southern driveway for Jordan-Elbridge High School on Hamilton Road was identified as a location involving several crashes. Plans to redesign the J-E driveway for safety are already included in the J-E Capital Project proposal.

It’s critical because a ton of vehicles go through that area, Bush said.

As a result of the investigation, directional signs were installed at Bennetts Corners in Memphis, and along Rte. 5 near Hamilton Road.

It took a year and a half at DeFrancisco’s office, but you just keep chipping away at it, Bush said.

In a response letter to the DOT, Bush said the intersection of Rte. 5 and E. Brutus Street Road would continue to be a safety hazard until it is redesigned.

At some point a Highway Safety Investigation will call for a redesigned, safer intersection, Bush wrote.

An additional traffic study will be conducted to determine if left turn lanes are necessary on Route 5 at Hamilton Road.