Traffic snarled on Oak Street

at 7:45 this morning, they had the lights flashing on Main & Oak St. With the lights red for Main St. Traffic was quite backed up on Main. I don't know how long it was that way, because I turned around and went the back way to work.

I live on Oak and what a mess. I'm sure it will be worth it in the end though but jackhammers at 6:30 in the morning really suck.

I am not sure about anyone else, but I was on Oak Street Extension the other day, and went around one of the round abouts. Not sure what road it is, but you end up driving on the wrong side of the road, but it is not signed very well. So I ended up freaking out because I thought I was on the wrong side of the road with traffic coming towards me. They do have a sign, but it's only one sign and it was definitely confusing. Am I the only one with this problem?

Roundabouts are not really that hard. Its a circle, you drive in it in a clockwise manner, you exit at the road you would like to drive on.

Yes, and I was not commenting on the roundabout. That's not my problem. It was the lack of signs on the side road that I ended up on. There is not much signing that tells you that there is no on-coming traffic. It's confusing I guess is all.

It's not just you. I made a comment awhile ago, but no one cares or listens, so I'll simply wait until there's a head-on collision and say "I told you so".

Agreed Anthony and Chris. The few times I have ventured near there lately have been very confusing where I'm supposed to be driving. I avoid it at all costs now.

I'm trying to avoid these roads period, but its hard cause I live right off of Oak...its so hard to get to work, drop the kids off at day care, go to lunch...

The only time I have to go down the Oak Rd Ext is to get on South Main, so I avoid the roundabout completely.

I'm not sure what data or studies they used but I have to say that the way they had it before was ridiculous. It was a 4 lane highway but during most of the day it was legal to park in the outer lanes. The only time you couldn't park in these lanes of traffice was from 7-9 in the morning and 4-6 in the evening. So, you would be driving down Oak Street and all of the sudden there is a car parked in your lane. I always thought it was an accident just waiting to happen.

Remember all the crying when the State suggested banning parking on Oak and making it just 4 lane? Council members getting involved, posts on this site. Well, this is what you got. Except for going to the T-way enterance, I'll stay of Oak now also.

I feel bad for the people on State Street who are going to see more traffic.

The businesses on Veteran's memorial will see more traffic though good for them.

Oak St has always been a tricky drive... as Beth said, you'd be driving along in the right lane and all of a sudden there's a car parked in the street or coming from the Thruway someone suddenly puts on their signal to turn Left onto State St.

At least you had 4 lanes to travel-now there will only be 2.....I can't wait to hear all the griping by the Oak St. residents that they can't get out of their driveway due to traffic being backed up at Main....how many businesses on Oak actually need parking????Going north on Oak isn't a problem,it's southbound-guess I'll avoid that area from now on-

Can't think of many business that need on street parking. All I can think about is how hard it will be to pull onto Oak St with all the backed up traffic. This whole thing is stupid. Four lanes were fine...if they removed parking on Oak as a option that might have helped. For all the years I have lived on or near Oak, I have never seen a need for on street parking.

Carol Grasso's beauty shop. I am lucky enough to live right next to a dead end street (Charles Street I think) so if we have extra guests, they just park over there.

Phil,
You better agree with Laura, or it Golden Girl marathons for you!!

Are they working 24 hours a day like they are in Corfu? You ever have those construction lights shine into your house all night and listen to the pavers dump trucks and back up alarms ALL NIGHT? By 3:30 am your thinking very bad thoughts about the workers.

Brian, one year we went to the NYS Fair in Syracuse and stayed at the Holiday Inn. Construction was ongoing all night long on the top level of the bridge right across from our room.
Even with the drapes closed the noise was deafening.
There was a school group staying on the floor above us and since they couldn't sleep they decided to play frisbee using dinnerware from their room service trays. I looked out once and literally saw flying saucers.

Which reminds me, we were staying at a hotel in Ohio and heard a horrendous crash and several loud voices.
I opened the door only to find several grown men just returning from a bowling tournament. I'm not quite sure what they were thinking, but they were using the empty hallway as a bowling lane. Lofting their bowling balls down the hallway and through the plate glass window at the end of the hall.
Another guest must have called the front desk since it was just seconds later that the elevator opened and security took care of the matter.

Not all night Brian but they start awfully early.

A few early mornings will be worth a street not banging your car apart-especially that one manhole that was in the left lane heading south on Oak just past Richmond....I wish county would repave my road-Hanson uses it alot to get to quarry on Rt 5-I think last time they did anything besides tar and stones was 2002-and then it was that machine that makes a topcoat material that looks like blacktop but isn't.Now if the railroad would get around to fixing tracks on Ellicott St......