What Were They Thinking?
If you are one of the drivers who uses Route 17 near Upper Saddle River you had better be awake, off your phone, not texting and really paying attention.
Not enough with the chaotic entry onto the road from the line of gas stations along the stretch from BP Quick Check gas station at the top of the hill, where daily people are taking their lives into their hands dealing with people who don’t know how to enter a highway or exit, now there is another hazard to pay attention to.
Chick-fil-A is arriving in Ramsey on Route 17 (where Horizon diner was) with an opening scheduled for December 5. Sited at a location next to Houlihan’s and Uncle Guiseppe’s between an on and off ramp to Route 17 this dangerous stretch of road is going to be even more so with a steady flow of traffic entering the highway, juggling to exit the highway and enter and exit the food places. This is a very chaotic stretch of road. People are distracted and confused at best, now add food into the equation and it really is a recipe for accidents. In a stretch of literally 800 feet there are 4 enter/exits to establishments and 2 highway exits points. Great planning.
Were they even thinking? Or just looking forward to the enhanced revenue?
You have to ask who had the wisdom to approve this? Local residents who have been paying attention will note that in the past 6 -12 months there have been a significant increase in serious accidents along Route 17 between Waldwick and Mahwah. Several of which have closed the road for long periods of time. Distracted driving. Now, add this popular spot to an already hazardous stretch and the problem has the potential for serious accidents. Obviously there are issues of access to these places, and driving through Uncle Guiseppe’s parking lot isn’t desirable – if even legal – but surely there was a better way to deal with traffic. Getting in and out of these places is literally going to be a chicken run.
Hopefully local residents will be attentive to the potential for problems and pay extra attention, drive slower and be considerate of other drivers who may not be as familiar with this stretch.
Or are busy eating.
Because if not you are seriously risking your life.
