Eagle Rock: narrow lanes, steep inclines, multiple businesses, sharp turns into driveways

For pedestrians there is a very dangerous stretch on Mountain Ave just where it turns into Undercliff. No sidewalk, narrow street, no shoulder, not much room to walk on side of road because of overgrown bushes. And people drive VERY fast, despite speed bumps on Mountain Ave. My husband broke his ankle there last year jumping up onto the curb to avoid a fast moving car right there.

People who either miss the right-side 'jug-handle' on Northfield while going west towards Pleasant Valley Way make an illegal left at Pleasant Valley Way. Most are probably unfamiliar with the right way to do this. Decent signage alerting drivers to do it right, is sorely needed. This intersection racks up a lot of crash debris!
This town needs and ordinance against shrubs at intersections that block the view of oncoming traffic and if there is one, enforcement is needed!

Above should read: People who miss.. not People who either miss....
The Patch used to have a delete button to allow a re-write. Why did it disappear?!!!

Agreed about that intersection, Alan. The new restaurant has made it worse. In fairness, I have seen county police ticket people who make the illegal left.

In relation to icy or slippery roads, I avoid Northfield, Eagle Rock & Mt. Pleasant if I can. I see a lot of accidents on Prospect Ave. too (near 280 and Essex Green Shopping Center). Kinda strange since there is no incline what-so-ever. I think it's just related more to the populated road and speed limits in those areas. Eagle Rock (from Laurel Ave - Harrison) is not a safe road even in dry conditions)...narrow lanes, sharp curves...and if there happens to be a pot hole or caved in manhole you can forget it!!!

I feel there should also be at leas a sidewalk on one side of the road on Northfield (Pleasant Valley to the neighborhood up the hill); Prospect (Essex Green Shopping Center to the opposite side of the 280 overpass) and Eagle Rock (Prospect down past the Reservation to Mountain Ave). More people would probably walk in these areas if they didn't have to walk in the tall grass/bushes to avoid being hit by a car. The only safe way to get through those areas is in a vehicle.

Eagle Rock Ave. is a nightmare after it snows. I don't understand why it's so hard to plow both lanes of traffic. I assume this road is plowed by the county. They usually leave the right lane only half plowed, so people have to keep cutting into the left lane to avoid the snow. Given the amount of taxes we pay, and how heavily traveled that road is, makes it completely unacceptable. I have reported it to the WOPD several times.

And then the "S curve" as you go down the mountain is dangerous at all times. Much too narrow, steep, and curvy.

Excessive Speeding is a BIG problem in W O. The entire length of PVW is a speedway. I believe the speed limit on certain parts of PVW is 50mph! It is reduced to 40 around Mt Pleasant and goes down to 30 in Pleasantdale Center, then back to 40 into Verona. I've done 50 and been passed! Whens the last time anyone saw a Radar Gun in use? Has the crime rate in WO gotten so bad the Police dont have the time for Traffic Enforcement?? I hope not. Surrounding Towns (Roseland-Verona-Cedar Grove-Livingston-Millburn) All have radar enforcement in several locations on a daily basis. Why not W Orange? Traffic Violations generates $$$$$$$
and makes for a safer W Orange!

I agree with jnjpa that PVW should have regular radar enforcement especially with 2400 students between Pleasantdale and WOHS. The only time I've seen police is on the first days of school in September and then never again the whole year. Regular enforcement is the only way to get drivers to slow down and obey the speed limits.

Ever since Prospect Avenue was paved, drivers treat it as a highway. It's relatively flat, so drivers feel they can speed. There are joggers, walkers, cyclists, SHP students walking and running on the wrong side of the road, there have been pet deaths, and one jogger was killed several years ago.

Sure, everyone wants cops sitting on street corners looking for speeders. But as soon as a more serious crime takes place they will be the first to complain that the cops should have been out patrolling our neighborhoods and not wasting their time looking for speeders. If we had the benefit of a larger police force then maybe that's an option, but that's not reality.