There is a simple solution here. Ban left turns at both exits. Direct all traffic that wishes to turn left onto Pershing Drive to instead go out the side entrance onto Division Street, take a right, take a right on Clifton, and end up back on Pershing Drive. The only inconvenience will be adding a minute or two drive time to those who want to go to the businesses between Cumberland Farms and Clifton (Dunkin Donuts, Duchess, etc.). I use this route quite often to return to the North End.

Thanks Ward 6!

I noticed this same problem with Cumberland Farms Friday when a white SUV almost was side swiped blocking Division while trying to make that same dangerous left hand turn out of the lot into heavy traffic.

Dr1ver8 makes another excellent point. I am sure a left turn from the Pershing exit is just as dangerous. How on Earth are drivers expected to not only make sure both lanes flowing towards Shop Rite are clear so close to an intersection, but that no cars are flowing from Shop Rite and none will make right turns from Division near Burger King.

I think the new Cumberland Farms looks terrific. But especially on the hill on Division it doesn't seem enough study was done of how difficult turning left would be for exiting traffic at a very busy intersection. Let's hope this can be corrected before someone is hurt or worse.

Ward 6 would you also bring up the issue with the Dunkin Donuts traffic turning left into the parking lot taking up the right lanes of Pershing Drive? Thanks.

Correction, Police Commission is first WEDNESDAY of the month, not Monday. I want to say that blocking on-coming & intersecting lanes, in general, is illegal. Blocking commercial driveways can be just as frustrating. Common courtesy would go a long way but....... I will throw Dunkin Donuts into the conversation in regards to Cumberland Farms with the Police Chief and Commission.

THANK YOU!!! Ward 6

Great comment Sue!

I have long wondered how on Earth Dunkin Donuts got approved without a required turn lane on Pershing for those wanting to turn left into the lot. The state dragged the approval of Walgreen's and the new Valley Bowl development on forever on Pershing because they were so concerned that both plazas now share ONE exit across from Shop Rite (which was a great idea).

However, on the Ansonia end of the street it seems both Dunkin Donuts and not Cumberland Farms entrances and exits got approved without much thought to safety.

If you are going to place turn restrictions on these businesses, you are going to have to add KFC, Shell, (Main & Division) Exxon, (Pershing & Division) and more. This is a problem of poor drivers. I see people make left turns at S&S against the sign, every other time I visit. All this is going to due is frustrate good businesses. I believe enforcement is a key here. You have the same drivers, yacking on their cell phones, making dangerous turns, on their way to get their coffee, day after day. Create a 6 month traffic task force. This could be one unmarked cruiser. Video the offenders, then ticket and educate to correct. These are not strangers making these dangerous turns, these are regulars. Even if you put signs and pavement marking everywhere, they will still do the same thing unless you get their attention with a ticket, and educate them. Any turn can be made with patience, good judgement, and driving skill without blocking intersections. Unfortunately, these qualities are in short supply with these drivers.

Mr. Luneski,

I hear you. However, I feel Cumberland Farms is unique due to how close it's exit sit to the major intersection of Pershing and Division. Oh, believe me, Mobil (Exxon) has the same problem with people trying to make left hand turns up Division but has a fraction of the customers CF has.

Just last night, a pickup truck tried to make a left hand turn out of the side exit of Cumby's onto Division. Like so many, they got into the left turn lane but I could tell that was not their plan the way they tired to inch ahead of the cars next to them.

Sure enough, the light turned green and the pickup gunned it to cut off all the cars that were CORRECTLY in the lane to continue straight on Division. One hit it's brakes, several hit their horns and the pickup proceed to shove itself in front of all of them. He didn't care if Cumberland Farms' exit only allowed him to enter the left turn lane.. he was going straight.

It can't be left like this. If those drivers were not alert that picked would have slammed into one of them causing a major accident. The new CF has a much heavier traffic flow exit and entering than the old. This doesn't work.

If Ansonia wants to park a cop there once a day around rush hours to ticket for this, GREAT. But where the officer would put their vehicle and how he/she would pursue someone to ticket them without causing even a greater hazard with so many cars flowing escapes me.

I'd like to know who the engineers were. They did a lousy job inside and out. So much wasted space and utterly disgraceful exits. Unbelievable! I avoid it at all costs. Too bad. I really liked Cumberland Farms.

This, like Dunkin Donuts is the fault of Ansonia's City Engineer and Planning and Zoning commission. Ansonia has plenty of bad designs like this. It's the engineer's job to review the plans and analyze potential problems. Basic design codes are not heeded. Shameful.

Unlike Walgreens, CF and Dunkin are approved by the town. There should NEVER be a curb cut within 50 feet of an intersection and travel lanes within a parking lot must be 20' wide. Just follow your own regulations Ansonia!

THANK YOU PLANNER!

I guess Ansonia is just waiting to see how many will be injured in the first accident caused by the CF site plan THEY approved. I have seen many cars continue to try and make dangerous left hand turns out of the Division Street CF exit close too close to the major intersection and forcing them to cross two lanes of opposing traffic.

Who allowed this? The only fix at this point is to tell CF to put up a "NO LEFT TURN" sign on that exit.

Curb cut at Division Street should be physically restricted to "right turn only" exit with raised curbing or closed altogether. That would also improve the impossible internal circulation through the gas pumps with cars going every which way and sometimes unable to move out.

The time to address this issue was when the plans were presented. Should have expressed concerns at the meetings, too late now.

Should have voiced concerns before it was built. I doubt any residents attended the meetings. Too late now.

If it was properly announced and the public would have been aware.

Demolition and construction went on for months, you didn't notice? The public had ample opportunity to express concerns at city meetings long before. This store has been there for decades with the same problems. You wait until the concrete is long hardened to complain. Alderman had ample opportunity to critique, but said nothing. Welcome to Ansonia.

So let's see THE PUBLIC has to tell planning and zoning in Ansonia that the Cumberland Farms plan they are reviewing has dangerous exits onto Division Street that need to be removed or modified.

NONE of the people on planning and zoning or council knew CF has traffic problems at the old store? None had any experience in traffic flow, knew they had to require a "NO LEFT TURN" sign at that exit at minimum?

So residents need to hold the hand of city officials or they'll just approve any train wreck put in front of them? City Hall may need to take a look at those on this committee since they can't see a problem in a design without unskilled member of the public pointing to it.

Nice.