Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Road closure is up for debate

Though some residents want Neptune Street closed, others fear thediverted traffic will clogtheir neighborhoods.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published May 5, 2006

Those residents said they noticed a "significant improvement in traffic congestion'' in the neighborhood when the city closed Neptune Street at West Shore Boulevard for a few days. Nearly 100 homeowners signed a petition last month asking the city to do a test closure of the entrance.

But in the weeks that followed, the city traffic department was flooded with opposition to the idea. So it has tabled any consideration of a closure until after a May 22 meeting of the Culbreath Bayou Homeowners Association.

"We did receive many calls in opposition,'' said William Porth, the city's traffic analysis supervisor. "It was almost like a wildfire situation.''

Many were from adjacent neighborhoods such as Beach Park or Sunset Park, where residents were concerned closing Neptune would funnel cut-through traffic onto their streets, Porth said. But another 15 or so calls were from opponents who live in Culbreath Bayou.

John Shepard of Roxmere Road started the petition asking for the 60- to 90-day closure, Porth said.

After that, Shepard hoped to bring the prospect of a permanent closure to a neighborhood vote. Shepard could not be reached for comment.

Among the closure's opponents is Mark Buell, who wrote in a letter to city traffic employees, "the vast majority of residents are not in favor of diverting traffic from one side of the neighborhood to the other."

Nat and Barbara Pieper of Roxmere Road argued that closing Neptune would force traffic onto Beachway Drive, creating a safety problem.

Culbreath Bayou's homeowner association hasn't taken any position on the debate, vice president Andrew Diaz said.

He hoped residents will reach a consensus at the May 22 meeting.

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

[Last modified May 5, 2006, 08:50:07]