4 Way Stop on Gillespie (Madison, Excel: neighborhood, school, live)

[ionlife]

We have noticed a wonderful transition to the four way stop on Gillespie and Balch. Before the City of Madison added this element, accidents were the norm. Now, I have yet to see a fire or emergency vehicle zoom to the scene of yet another accident.

A few people were worried that this would increase lines in traffic and make morning commutes horrible. However, I haven't noticed an issue when I drive my child to school.

I think the flashing lights are not a problem either, but I don't live close to the intersection.

Anyone else want to share their experience?

[Elizabeth_G]

I'm thrilled with the new stop signs. I find it much easier/quicker to get my daughter to school now. Before, the traffic on Balch would fly on by, while we sat for minutes on end (one morning was 12 minutes) for our turn to risk life and limb shooting across the intersection on Gillespie.

I say hooray! Way to go City of Madison!

[Charles]

There must not be a lot happening in Northern Alabama when there is a City Data thread on a stop sign.

[cornutt]

It's funny, though, because I used to use Balch as part of my route to work when I lived in Knox Creek in the early '90s. Back then, Balch only had light traffic and that part of Gillespie was pretty much unused.

One day, when I was driving south on Balch, I got run off the road by a drunk. This was just north of where Browns Ferry intersects, and at 7:30 in the morning. I saw the guy coming and he started to edge over to my lane. And as I watched in disbelief, he just kept on coming. I got over to the right as far as I could, but there's a ditch alongside the road there. When he passed me, he was fully over into my lane and he missed me by inches. I just barely had my left side wheels on the pavement, and my right wheels were on the edge of the ditch. Any further over and I would have wrecked in the ditch.

After he passed, I turned around and went after him, so I could get his plates and call 911. But he knew what I was trying to do, and he sped up to 80 MPH to get away from me. I kept him in sight for a bit, still trying to read the plate, but when he ran the stop sign at Highway 72 without even slowing down, I knew I'd done all I could do. It still tees me off that I wasn't able to get his plates, and I hope he didn't wind up killing someone.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by cornutt

It's funny, though, because I used to use Balch as part of my route to work when I lived in Knox Creek in the early '90s. Back then, Balch only had light traffic and that part of Gillespie was pretty much unused.

One day, when I was driving south on Balch, I got run off the road by a drunk. This was just north of where Browns Ferry intersects, and at 7:30 in the morning. I saw the guy coming and he started to edge over to my lane. And as I watched in disbelief, he just kept on coming. I got over to the right as far as I could, but there's a ditch alongside the road there. When he passed me, he was fully over into my lane and he missed me by inches. I just barely had my left side wheels on the pavement, and my right wheels were on the edge of the ditch. Any further over and I would have wrecked in the ditch.

After he passed, I turned around and went after him, so I could get his plates and call 911. But he knew what I was trying to do, and he sped up to 80 MPH to get away from me. I kept him in sight for a bit, still trying to read the plate, but when he ran the stop sign at Highway 72 without even slowing down, I knew I'd done all I could do. It still tees me off that I wasn't able to get his plates, and I hope he didn't wind up killing someone.

Glad you are okay--that is the main thing. I am glad there is a four way stop on Gillespie. I think someone suggested it would be a problem for the residents to get used to, but it has been a breeze.

We may get our training wheels off soon and have the removed. That would be nice for residents close to the signs.

[DvlsAdvc8]

Originally Posted by Charles

There must not be a lot happening in Northern Alabama when there is a City Data thread on a stop sign.

ROFL

Excellent point.

[ionlife]

Actually, there were several severe accidents on that corner prior to the sign coming up so I felt it was a pertinent topic as far as MADISON residents were concerned. The issue was raised that the four way stop would not be conducive to preventing accidents, but apparently it has been very successful. Also, there were people who were concerned about the traffic backing up horribly as a result of the four way stop. Fortunately, that was not the case. In fact, the opposite happened.

But hey, we can talk about BBQ places and so forth on here without getting laughed at so why not talk about a four way stop sign?

[DvlsAdvc8]

It's just a joke. Safety issues are certainly pertinent. But when you look at it the way Charles did, its pretty funny.

[ionlife]

Well when you're hearing sirens and seeing bodies in ditches, it is not such a joking matter. JMO....It was relevant to Madison and this neighborhood.