When a Truck Turns into Essex Crossing
Photo: Kelli McNamara
The notorious traffic bottleneck at Grand and Clinton Streets is well documented at this point. A constant thorn in the side of local residents who argue that the pattern here – essentially an on-ramp to the Williamsburg Bridge – is outright dangerous.
The line of cars during rush hour never disappoints. Like yesterday.
This westbound big-rig attempted to turn onto Clinton Street – outside the Trader Joe’s – and found itself wedged in the intersection. The truck driver apparently underestimated the turn and took down a crossing signal. Traffic here was snarled for much of the afternoon.
Photo: Kelli McNamara
For more than a decade – long before Essex Crossing – this intersection has been a pinch point for outbound cars. Oftentimes backing up to the FDR. One Seward Park Co-op resident nicknamed the dilemma a “cauldron of honking.”
The congestion topic is a hot-button issue addressed briefly each year without much to show for it. At least there are traffic agents posted to this junction, even if their placement is of questionable value…
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