Officials Weigh Possible Third Stop Sign at 106-Carter Street Intersection

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Motorists are speeding along a busy stretch of Route 106 in New Canaan and officials now are looking at possibly adding a stop sign to an already complicated intersection.

During the July 17 meeting of the Police Commission, a representative of New-Haven-based Hardesty & Hanover presented officials with various ideas to remedy the skewed intersection of Carter Street, state Route 106 or Silvermine Road, and Canoe Hill Road.

After hearing numerous proposals for possible solutions, Police Chief John DiFederico questioned why the traffic consultant had not considered placing a single stop sign in the westbound direction of the intersection – creating a three-way stop.

Veronica Prezioso of Hardesty & Hanover said she thought this was a “good point” and that she would have to further “look into it.” 

She told town officials at the meeting—held at Town Hall and via videoconference— that the addition of the third stop sign could be a viable solution but added that it would invite more signage earlier on, likely with blinking lights to indicate to drivers that there would be a stop. 

DiFederico noted that it was a much cheaper solution and could be implemented much quicker. 

Director of Public Works Tiger Mann said that officials had already looked into a four-way stop at the intersection and even the installation of a traffic light, but those ideas were vetoed earlier on. Mann said the three-way stop sign idea suggested by DiFederico was a possible solution.

The town has been looking to remedy this dangerous intersection for many years. In 2023, the selectmen approved a contract with Hardesty & Hanover for a redesign and safety evaluation of the intersection. 

Hardesty & Hanover analyzed the intersection by evaluating the turning movement counts (the amount of traffic exiting and entering an intersection during a given time) determining the peak hours – which were deemed typical – and studying the eight crashes that occurred over a time of just under three years.

Prezisoso said that the number of crashes due to the intersection was “pretty high for a less than three-year period (January 1, 2018, to November 30, 2021).”

In addition, Hardesty & Hanover conducted a speeding study of motorists at the intersection. Where the posted speed limit eastbound was 30 MPH, 85% of cars were traveling at 39 MPH. Where the speed was posted at 25 MPH westbound, 85% of motorists were driving at 43 MPH. 

“There is a pretty high discrepancy between the posted speed and what people are actually doing out there,” Prezioso said. 

In addition to speeding, the existing conditions at the intersection present precarious situations for drivers, said Prezioso. The current conditions are as follows: 

1. Offset four-legged intersection
2. Safety and operational concerns
3. Horizontal curvature of Route 106
4. Speeding
5. Limited intersection sight distance for motorists exiting side streets looking to the East
6. Limited stopping sight distance for motorist traveling Westbound on Route 106 approaching the intersections

“It is an offset, skewed intersection with a horizontal curvature from the East that limits sight distance when exiting Carter Street or coming from the East along Silvermine Road,” said Prezioso. “It really causes some safety concerns and operational issues.”

In order to mitigate these dangers, both short and long-term improvement proposals were evaluated by officials during the meeting.

Preziosso presented three various solutions to the commission.

Short-Term improvement:

• Carter Street right turn only
• Relocate stop bar and stop sign on Canoe Hill Road
• Provided conceptual plan to CTDOT
• CTDOT had no objections to the proposed short-term improvements at the intersection
• Need an encroachment permit to relocate canoe hill stop bar and stop sign 

Alternate Improvement (Roundabout)

• Roundabout concept 
• Significant right-of-way encroachment
• Modifications to all four legs of the intersection, as well as to two residential driveways

Long-Term Improvement 

• Offset T-Type intersections
  

  Possible solution of offset T-Type intersections.

• Separate Canoe Hill Road and Carter street into two intersections an relocate stop bars and stop signs
• Trim back/maintain vegetation as shown to improve sight distance 
• Realignment and narrowing of roadway – traffic calming
• Eliminates north-south through movement and creates two-stage movement to improve sight distance 

Prezioso said at this time, Hardesty & Hanover had come to a consensus that long-term improvement is the best solution for the intersection.

“At this point we’ve decided to go right along to the long-term improvement which is the offset T-type of two intersections right next to each other,” Prezioso said. 

There was no vote taken at this meeting. Next steps involve deciding on a solution, surveying the intersection, applying for an encroachment permit from CTDOT, and finalizing design.