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…