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Police To Address Safety on Old Mill Road

WESTON, Conn. – Old Mill Road residents have received some welcome allies. Weston Police Chief John Troxell and First Selectman Gayle Weinstein said they also found the road to be dangerous and agreed that something had to be done to stop speeding cars from flying through the neighborhood.

Twenty-plus residents of Old Mill Road issued a petition to the Police Commission on Tuesday and asked for a comprehensive traffic study be conducted of safety concerns, traffic volume, traffic speed and overall conditions of the roadway. According to the neighbors, safety has been a concern for decades.

“We are concerned for our kids, our pets, ourselves,” said Old Mill Road resident Ali Farsun.

“We can’t even walk our dogs on the street without fear of being hit by a car. I can’t collect my mail when I come home without a flashlight or bells and whistles because I can almost get clipped by a vehicle who is coming dangerously close to the side of the road,” Farsun told the commission.

In 2010, Farsun said, a speeding car lost control, hit a rock wall and finally came to a stop 150 feet in front of her house. “The cars are coming dangerously fast,” she said.

Old Mill Road is partly in Weston and partly in Wilton. The posted speed limit in Weston is 15 mph, while Wilton’s side is posted at 25 mph. The Wilton side also has speed bumps throughout to curb speeding cars. Several Westonites told the commission that some cars travel more than 30 to 40 mph at any given time.

“Personally, I don’t think we need a study. I think we already know what the problem is,” Troxell said, referring to the many tree encroachments, impeding sight lines. Troxell said Old Mill Road is narrow, leaving patrol officers little room to pull vehicles over unless they block one lane.

Weinstein told the commission that she is a frequent traveler of the Old Mill Road and said the “No. 1 issue” on that road is the number of trees encroaching the roadway. She also said that because of the narrows roadway, she finds herself holding her breath in some portions.

Troxell said he would look into speed enforcement, speed monitoring devices and the use of radar trailer as first steps. He also said he would meet with the town engineer to discuss the possibility of cutting down trees and installing a raised crosswalk in the area of the Cobbs Mill Inn.

Troxell, along with the Town Engineer John Conte, are expected to submit a report of safety recommendations to the Police Commission during next month’s meeting.

Although Troxell said this situation could not be fixed overnight, he assured residents the department will do its best to ease their concerns. “We’re going to be up there, you’re going to see us up there a lot,” he said.

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