From the intersection of 1st Street and Ohio Avenue in Kingston to the intersection of Highway 104 and Miller Bay/Hansville Road, numerous highly dangerous roadway issues threaten pedestrians and drivers.

First, have you or someone you know almost been hit while crossing Ohio or Iowa when ferry traffic is heading uphill? The scariest thing I ever saw was a woman carrying a baby who almost got hit by a driver zooming up the merge lane to pass cars that had stopped for her to cross in the crosswalk. Perhaps the county could install high-visibility signage for both crosswalks, as well as a sign to warn merge-lane drivers to watch out for pedestrians in the crosswalks.

Second, the driveway at the new Starbucks doesn’t have a safe way for westbound drivers to get to the parking lot. Drivers stop in the middle of the highway and cross in front of oncoming traffic to get to Starbucks. Sure, it’s illegal to make that turn, but that doesn’t stop people. Adding a center turn lane would help route drivers into Starbucks’ parking lot would improve safety.

Third, I believe 45 mph is an unsafe speed limit in an area dense with commercial and residential driveways and summer ferry traffic. It’s nice that the speed limit was lowered from 50 to 45, but wouldn’t 35 be safer?

Finally, the intersection of 104 and Barber Cutoff/Parcells Road, and the curve leading up to it, must be addressed. I understand that straightening out that curve is a huge undertaking, and that adding a stoplight may inconvenience drivers. However, the crashes that happen there are tragedies. For those who do survive, their injuries are horrific and life-altering. At the very least, reducing the speed limit to 35 mph could help.

Traffic on Highway 104 is managed by the state Department of Transportation. I’ll send a copy of this letter to the person in charge, asking that these safety issues be addressed. I trust they will help us improve safety on Kingston roads.

Rosemary Tinsley

Kingston