Not the answer to Newbridge Road's woes

I was extremely shocked to read your article about the narrowing of Newbridge Road (“A ‘road diet’ for Newbridge Road,” July 29-Aug.4). I live just east of Newbridge Road, south of Hempstead Turnpike.
   
While I do agree that it is a dangerous road, this narrowing to one lane is going to make thing much worse. One example is the amount of traffic that will begin to cut down the side streets to avoid the traffic and the light at Newbridge and Hempstead Turnpike. The block I live on connects to the eastbound turnpike, and we already have our share of people who cut through our neighborhood in order to avoid that intersection.
   
With the lanes narrowed and traffic projected to be even worse trying to cross that intersection, we will most certainly see an increase in people cutting down the side streets, especially my block. We have many children who play here, and an increase in traffic on the side streets will make our quality of life more hazardous. Secondly, the traffic during rush hour is backed up for a great distance north and south of the turnpike with two lanes each morning. I cannot imagine what the backup will be with only one lane.

   
Even though red-light cameras were recently installed at the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Newbridge, I believe people will try and hastily get through the intersection after trying to cross or make a turn into the intersection, which may increase the number of accidents.
   
Having the common turn lane to make a left will definitely not make turning any easier. Perhaps in another state, where drivers are more courteous, it might work, but in New York no one is going to let you out to make the left, again increasing the chance of accidents. A better option would have been to increase the number of traffic lights at various intersections along Newbridge Road. We have been requesting a traffic light at the intersection of First Avenue and Newbridge for many years, but were told there weren’t enough fatalities to warrant the light. So now they’re redoing the whole road? Makes no sense.
   
I plan to contact my legislator about this as well. This plan was kept pretty low-key, and I’m sure not many residents were aware of it, or they would have fought it, just for the reason of increased side-street traffic. Thank you for keeping the community updated on this matter.

Kristen Sparkowski
East Meadow