The City requests your assistance in identifying problem traffic intersections throughout the city limits. Our primary focus is those crossings where visibility is obstructed by overgrown shrubbery and low-hanging branches. If you're aware of overgrowth creating a hazardous intersection, please post your listing here using the following crossing format:

N. 9th/Pleasant

Your assistance will improve public saftety, be a big help to our staff, and, ultimately, save all property owners assessments for street maintenance.

Thank you.

Joe

Mid-day South Haynes Ave. traffic can be pretty awful. Attempting to make left turns from any of the businesses along S. Haynes Ave. -- especially those near I-94 -- can take both patience and luck.

Earling and Main ST the trees by watts insurance are very hard to see around.

Main and Seventh. There are constantly cars parked in the no parking zone at the pharmacy.

I know there isn't room but South Haynes by the interstate could probably benefit a lot from a frontage road running from the first WalMart turn in down to 4Bs.

That is state highway. And, according to the state, everything is fab on Haynes, right down to that weird intersection with Main.

I think the Mayor is talking about intersections where people's bushes block the view of on-coming drivers. Something that the City can actually have some influence on. That sort of thing.

N. Montana / Truscott- shrubbery

The shrubbery at the south end of the Yellowstone bridge makes it very hard to see if Officer King or Curry is sitting there with a radar gun.

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (8/18/2011)]

There's a house on the southwest corner of Merriam and Main whose occupant parks several cars on the street blocking the sightline into the alleyway behind the house.

While we are on Main & Merriam... The bushes and tree placement in the North East corner, make it very difficult to see traffic from East Main while on North Merriam.

[This message has been edited by Kelly (8/18/2011)]

The intersection at Winchester and Main. You can't see around the trees on the south side of the street to see if there is traffic coming down main. You have to pull so far out into the street especially if there is a car parked there on the west side of the block.

N. 5th/Main

During peak traffic times (especially 5 p.m.), its quite difficult to see traffic coming east down Main if there's cars parked in front of the Olive. You have to pull out quite a ways into the intersection before you can see to the west.

N. Earling / Leighton Blvd. , my house is there at 312 N. Earling and I am going to trim back my tree. The tall hedge on the other side is the worse problem, it blocks your view from eastbound traffic if you are going north at that stop sign. The city made Ron Watts cut it down to 3 feet high many years ago when he owned it, and I cut my tree back a few times since then. The new owners have just let it grow over 6 or 7 feet high. There was a bad accident some years back, a car was T-boned there and it ended up on my lawn, luckily no one was hurt badly.

This is a very good start. Thanks for your help.

For those commenting on S. Haynes Ave., your City Council, City Planning Commission, and I share your frustration with the congestion you've noted and have arranged for a comprehensive traffic study to be completed for Miles City with the MT. Dept. of Transportation to address our concerns.

MDT has recently hired a consultant to facilitate the study and I was advised yesterday that MDT public hearings should begin in Miles City within the next few months to identify needed changes along our state-controlled urban routes.

Meanwhile, please continue to advise us of problem intersections.

Joe

Main/Montana. The bushes in front of Presbyterian Church

Gritting my teeth ..... awaiting a terse reminder from Amorette et al that this post is NOT in keeping with the Mayor's original request .....HOWEVER, given that traffic SAFETY is the foundation of the Mayor's request, this post IS IN KEEPING with the Mayor's request.

A new school year is about to begin in Miles City ~ I would suggest making the streets around the various school campuses 'one way' streets. Also, I would suggest enforcing the drop-off/bus loading zones. These two relatively simple suggestions would go a LONG WAY to solve the congestion problems that result from too narrow streets combined with vehicle traffic that is liberally mixed with dually pickups and buses.

The corner of phillips and N Montana, there is a bush in front of 1403 N Montana that makes it hard to see if cars are coming from the right when you are waiting to turn left off of phillips. Bush needs to be removed.

I'm not sure who had the brilliant idea to pave the shortcut from 10th Street to 11th Street south of Fort, through a dirt parking lot, but it has formed an absolutely stupid unmarked intersection. More than once I've nearly been hit by some idiot in a hurry pushing the "right of way" rule as they merge onto the more obvious street. Using the shortcut lets them bypass the intersection with stop signs at Fort and 10th. The goofy thing about it, other than it comes through a dirt parking area the County uses, is that the West end of it has a curb cut and apron like a parking lot- it was never meant to be a street. The whole parking area/shortcut should be paved, better defined by curbs and gutters, a side walk should be added to at least one side of the street, and the shortcut should be eliminated. It's dumb and dangerous.

The corner of Tompy and Stacy is really bad. There is atree branch that hangs down almost to the road.

The corner of S. Jordan and Main St. when you are headed North on S. Jordan and looking west down Main. There are trees planted in the blvd. that should have never been planted there. You can't see around them when there are no leaves and you can't see through them when they have leaves. They need to be cut down!!!!!!!!!!

East end of alley Winchester/Main. Huge trees on North side of alley.

South Lake and Pearl- Shrubs. It is right next to the Lincoln school and with the shrubs being so high hard to see the little kids when pulling out to turn. Plus you have to pull out pretty far to see if there is any traffic coming. All in all, a dangerous place.

The intersection of Bridge, S Montana, 11th and that dido that goes off by the tracks doesn't have a shrubery problem, but has serious right of way issues. Not to mention the congestion when the Drop in Center has lunches. I have lost track of the times I have almost been hit there, since I use Bridge Street 6 or more times a day. Is that paved area next to the tracts a street? Maybe just a way to avoid the 4-way stop? Please Mr Whalen, before someone does get hurt, consider a yeid sign or 2. Better defined corners, move the light pole and have NO parking on the south side of the Drop in Center. Just some suggestions.

[This message has been edited by Wendy Branum (8/23/2011)]

I agree with Lucy the intersection on Lake and Pearl is bad, bushes on one side,and if you are coming from the main street side, and looking left for traffic, if there are vehicles there, it is almost impossible to see!

south earling and comstock- there is a huge evergreen tree that you can't see around unless you pull into the street. The oncoming traffic is supposed to be be doing 15 mph, but NEVER are.

This is a side comment but when did the law change about stopping for pedestrians at a crosswalk?? I have yet to have a car stop and let me cross the street. It was a $140 fine in the place where I used to live if the vehicle didn't stop. The city made $90,000 one summer just by putting police near high walking areas.

No kidding JJC! I endure the same problem countless times on any given day. Almost been hit several times. Kind of like the bicyclists on sidewalks law.

You ought to try crossing Haynes Ave. someday. Pedestrian-friendly it isn't.

the best one is the bicycles riding down the middle of the street blocking traffic. or the kids that just race across main to get to M&H without looking.

the best one is the bicycles riding down the middle of the street

As discussed before, perfectly legal.

This isn't an intersection problem per se, but is a bit of a traffic-related issue: the gravel area at the south end of the Oasis is a playground for those who wish to have a place to spin "cookies". There is quite regularly motorists who seem to take great delight in seeing how fast they can get going across there and/or just slam on the breaks to kick up a humongous dust cloud or throw gravel everywhere.
With the proximity to the Oasis and Riverside Park, not to mention, the residences very close by, its just a matter of time until someone comes across there doing way faster than what is prudent and slams into someone walking, biking, driving, you name it. I very, very rarely ever see a police car in the area.

As long as I'm on a soap box, someone desperately needs to patrol this same area around the time football practice lets out. The kids must be really happy to get out of practice because they tear across from the practice field and down Park St and S. 5th just as fast as they can go. I live in the area and have been nearly hit several times. The speeds I've seen are outright dangerous.

*removing self from soap box now* I realize this has strayed from the original posting, but think its something worth mentioning.

Thanks to all who have posted to this thread. Warning letters go out to property owners above remaining in violation of our tree/shrubbery ordinance tonight, as well as to those responsible for obstructions at the following intersections:

Wilson/Sutton: north side of intersection stop sign blocked by branches
Tompy/Merriam: south side of intersection yeild sign blocked by tree branches
Tompy/Custer: north side of intersection yeild sign blocked by tree branches
Comstock/Stacy: north side of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Stower/Stacy: north side of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Pearl/Merriam: southside of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Strevell/Bridge: eastside of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Montana/Palmer: eastside of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Montana/Pleasant: eastside of intersection stop sign blcoked by tree branches
Montana/Phillips: east side of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Montana/Roosevelt: eastside of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches
Woodbury/Phillips: westside of intersection stop sign blocked by tree branches

Gaining voluntary compliance is always our preferred approach in Miles City. However, citations will be issued as required.

A few other notes: a) forwarded addresses located in the county won't be enforced by the city, b) the pedestrian crossing issue on S. Haynes Ave. should be voiced during upcoming MDT traffic study public hearings, and c) mature trees in the boulevard on E. Main St. won't be removed.

Thanks again.

Joe

Doeden and Comstock- some kind of foliage is climbing up the utility pole from a planter and blocks the vision of traffic coming from the west.

I have a wonderful idea. I have tried this before and for some reason my post disappeared. All of Fort and Dickinson need yield signs. There are numerous wrecks on both streets every year. THis really needs to be taken into consideration.

If you think drivers are bad about stopping for pedestrians in Miles City, try strolling around Billings sometime. Marked crosswalks apparently exist to give the drivers something to aim at. Trying to get to the Depot from across the street is an exercise in taking your life in your hands.

My recent experience in crossing Montana in Billings was different than yours. I was crossing with my grandson at a crosswalk and each time traffic stopped for us without exception. And as we awaited our dining party I watched others making the crossing and they also were able to cross without difficulty.

That said, caution is always wise in Billings.

Corner of South Sewell and Stower has two large over-grown trees that can obstruct traffic headed west on Stower from the traffic at the stop sign on Sewell

Where South Montana meets where 8th street turns into Stower.
they really should put a barrier up on South Montana
and not allow anyone to go to that intersection.
Almost daily there are close calls.

"Where South Montana meets where 8th street turns into Stower."

Perfect spot for a roundabout.

Doeden and Comstock- some kind of foliage is climbing up the utility pole from a planter and blocks the vision of traffic coming from the west.

Thats funny that a green pole rather than a brown pole makes it hard to see traffic. It must just be so mesmerizing/distracting to see around a vine that adds less than an inch of width to a telephone pole.

But seriously, I know where your comin from, those darn stop signs are staring to get hard to see around too and especially if there is a weed growing at the base of it lol.

[This message has been edited by TMF (8/27/2011)]

[This message has been edited by TMF (8/27/2011)]

[This message has been edited by TMF (8/27/2011)]

there are so many intersections in town that do not have stop signs. IE: you come to a 4 way intersection and there are no stop signs either way. this is a problem because most people dont yield either way.

If you were to study your driver's manual, you will find that right of way is clearly defined therein.

Therein lies the problem, most people are not referring to their driver's manual enough after turning 16 years of age.

Actually the vine on Doeden/Comstock is rather distracting. It surprised me how large it has grown.

Mayor you say mature trees on east main will not be removed. That is fine, but what about the trees I mentioned on the southside of Main and west side of Jordan that were planted in the blvd in front of what I remember as being Etchemendy's old house. They darn sure are not mature trees and should not be allowed to stay. go look at that sightline heading north on Jordan and trying to cross main. You have to ease your way out into Main so that you can get a good view before you cross.

I was at that intersection just this afternoon. I had no problem seeing traffic. Now the Grenz for mayor signs... they are very distressing and distracting and need of removal

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (8/28/2011)]

You are right Richard there is no problem now as they have finally trimmed them up enough so you have a clear sightline but they were not trimmed in May when I was there last and they have been an issue for several years but not now. So Mr. Mayor, never mind

I understand about trees but my question is...especially now that school is back in session...will there be anything done to the nearly adult-tall/sized weeds on the corner of Atlantic and the 10th street intersection (on the south side of the railroad tracks). If you're turning left onto 10th street from Atlantic, going north you can hardly see the traffic coming from pearl and montana. This intersection get very busy and there's bound to be a wreck if the weeds aren't taken care of.