Of all the locations in the Capital District, this makes the most sense for a round-about. About 4 hours a day this intersection sees constant traffic, but for the rest of the day, while traffic is always flowing, its very light. I'm sure the home owners on Old Post Rd. would welcome this, as it would eliminate the long lines of afternoon traffic in front of their houses.

I agree that this would be a great place for a round about. I do realize that when the Malta Ave. bridge is completed the traffic will go back to what it was before they closed it. However there were still times that I was the 25 car in line at the 4 way stop! Why wasn't a bridge built before this one was closed, does anyone know?

Yes - there have been daily traffic backups here for years. Even with Malta Avenue reopened, this site should get a roundabout.

Let's get the traffic off Old Post Road by building an entrance/exit to the northway from Malta Ave. Old Post Road is actually a residental road, not a super highway. Let's get it back to the intended purpose.

Yes Rick! For at least 35 years Old Post Rd has been the primary conduit to the Northway, for cars coming from Galway, Milton, northern Ballston Spa, and southern Saratoga Springs, including SPAC. Its not engineered for this, but its still the road most taken. Evening traffic was slightly lessened by cars using Malta Ave to return home but that is not an option right now. Step 1 should be a southbound ramp to I87, from Malta Ave. This would cut morning traffic on Old Post Road by about 80%. There is ample space along the apple orchard for an entrance ramp, and Malta Ave is already engineered better than Old Post to handle this traffic load. Step 2 should be a longer merge lane onto Route 9 south, from exit 13S, and better signage to encourage local traffic to use Malta Ave as the shorter route to Route 50 (it is less distance because 13N has a 1 mile exit ramp). Both options would be very inexpensive to implement, yet greatly improve traffic flow for everyone. So how to get this started?

I would start by asking the residents on Old Post road to sign a petition addressed to Saratoga County, asking for a study of the problem. It could be expanded to the users of the road who don't live on Old Post Road. Next, we will have to build a coalition of local political leaders who could take it further. That will be the hard part. Unless there's something to gain, for them, it will die on the spot.

They should expect to gain/retain votes. Again, this would not be just for Old Post road residents - it would benefit EVERYONE who travels that route to reach the Northway southbound. Think of the trucks who cannot use Old Post because of weight restrictions. They must currently use Route 67, traveling through the village of Ballston Spa. With a southbound entrance ramp from Malta Ave., they'd be all set. Except for the loss of about 40 apple trees, I cannot think of any bad points to this plan

Let's get this ball rolling.

Roundabouts are the worst idea ever....look at the mess all over malta these have created! it would probably cause more accidents. I drive this road daily and although there is a back up you never wait for very long, and it wont be a issue at all when the malta ave bridge reopens.

Please no more Roundabouts!!!! there is a reason no other state is creating them anymore!

TO KEVIN:
Just look at exit 12, as a school bus driver, the roundabouts are a god sent to traveling this area. Check the accident rate in this area and you will find it is down.

There is a learning curve for drivers using round-a-bouts. It's a proven fact all over the world thery are extremely efficient when used by attentive drivers. If we would all put down the phone, coffee, mcmuffin and not tune the radio/ipod/tweet/text and actually pay attention to the road, life would be easier for us in round-a-bouts. Personally, I enjoy driving in round-a-bouts. Additionally I like NOT sitting behind a red light when no traffic is anywwhere in sight.

I'm with Jim and Rick - learn to use them, and you'll never go back. When round-abouts took over Route 67 in Malta, I was distraught - now I think they are the greatest driving invention I've seen in my life. And I think other states are beginning to see the benefits.

Rick - how do we get the ball rolling?

States are not seeing the benefits because there are none, look at Mass. for example all roundabouts have been removed over 10 years ago.

Yes roundabouts are fine if you know how to drive them, but do you really trust the other drivers out there...i dont i see them driving each day on there phones, speeding and texting...if this light is that much of a problem then leave 5 min earlier because it is not adding 5 more min on yr drive.

the bigger problem in people going from exit 13n to old post road...those people are crazy

So kevin, we agree. It's not the quality of the road, it's the skill/attentiveness of the drivers. Round-a-bouts have been successful everywhere but the USA because of the quality of our driving. Perhaps some PSA's and example setting by those who care would help.

As for the exit 13N to Old Post Road problem; this could fixed by an exit onto Malta ave. Please do a Google Maps search of this area to see how much sense it would make.

Kevin - This issue is not about a traffic light, there is no light at the intersection of Old Post and Northline. The issue is about safety, gas savings, and quality of life for the residents of Old Post Rd.

Regarding Mass. round-abouts - you're incorrect - see page 6, item 10 from this report: http://www.frcog.org/pubs/transportation/Roundabouts/Roundabout_FAQ_FINAL.pdf

Exactly there is a difference between a Rotary and a Roundabout.....roundabouts are much smaller and have greater potential for accidents, and in that study there is one, only one rotary left...going to the cape which may or may have not been already eliminated.

I feel that a roundabout or rotary is an antiquated system that is going to be helpful there at all. Just my opinion, but as someone who travels that way at least 2 time a day at different times, i dont really see it as an issue when there are much greater ones out there

Also dont you think it is odd that there would need to be a 16 page document showing why something is safe and safe driving rules for using a roundabout and supportive of the claim that they are at the heart of it unsafe?

Just to throw my 2 cents in here. The thing I like about roundabouts is the ease of navigating them at night. I do at least 50% of my driving after 10pm and there is nothing more frustrating than sitting at a red light when you are the only car around! With roundabouts this problem is eliminated. Some people are uncomfortable with them but they are proven to reduce fuel consumption, time at an intersection and increase safety. Any accidents that do happen are at a slow speed and at angles that rarely cause injury. Okay, carry on.

its a FAQ document - so its purpose is to educate and inform - its mostly photos and diagrams. I have been driving through that intersection twice daily for 32 years - and in my opinion, the pairing of a round-about at Northline and Old Post, and a southbound I-87 entrance ramp on Malta Ave would make my next 32 of driving a breeze! And its not about me, its about safety and efficency.

KEVIN: THERE IN IS THE PROBLEM WITH YOUR RESPONSE ON THE ROUNDABOUT ISSUE, YOU ONLY USE IT TWICE A DAY. PROBABLY NOT AT A HIGH TRAFFIC TIME.

if you consider between 7:30 and 8 am
and 5 to 6:15 pm non high traffic times, then you would be right.

otherwise, please turn your cap lock off

FOR KEVIN:
ENOUGH SAID, I WILL NOT GET INTO AN CONFRONTATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
YOU HAVE YOUR VIEWS AND I HAVE STATED MINE. BY THE WAY, I LIKE MY CAPS. HE HE

Has anyone who travels this road considered what little affect a roundabout would have without first fixing the problem at Northline & Rt. 50? Most often the backup is on Northline because of the light and the very small turn lane.. Until the road can be widened under the RR bridge and land can be taken from the property owners on that side of the bridge, putting a roundabout at Old Post Rd. will not solve the bigger problem. Old Post Rd has a 4 way stop now, which people use quite well and is more effective than a light. I think when the traffic goes back to Malta Ave there will be little use for a roundabout at Old Post Rd other than to spend more money the State/County does not have and increase our taxes even more.

We all just need to be patient. The bridge is coming together rather quickly. Does anyone know when it is expected to open?
The bridge will be done before a roundabout will even be discussed by the appropriate politicians. If you put politicians in the mix....hell has a better chance of freezing over!

Oh, and what about the jerks who turn left at the no left turn signs on Northline at Stewarts???!!!! I've even seen a sherifs car waiting for someone ahead of him to turn.
Of course there is the no left turn at Adirondack trust that everyone has to turn left at too!!!!

Yes Debbie,
If the county wants to raise funds they could sit at that intersection and write tickets all day at the Stewarts and ADK Trust Bank for the no left turns that occur. That backs up traffic even worse and causes accidents and you don't need a politician to fix that.

A round-about has been needed at Northline and Old Post Road (OPR) for years, not just since the Malta Ave. bridge replacement began. Mornings the backup on Northline is about 1/2 mile. Evenings, the backup onto OPR is about 1/2 mile. When the bridge is complete, the morning backup will be the same, but the evening backup will be split between OPR and Northline. A roundabout would save a lot of gasoline and exhaust fumes.

I think a round-about will be a waste of time and money. If you watch all the idiots that dont know how to use the exsisting round-abouts on RT67 and RT9. For example try to turn left from the far right lane while the person on the inner lane is going strait on, those who dont bother to stop, the idiots who i've seen do a complete 360 and continue on the way they were going to begin with....

I agree wholeheartedly with those who think a roundabout is not the way to go at Old Post and Northline. I am a resident of Old Post and it is difficult at times to even get out of our driveway because of the traffic. With a roundabout there would be a CONSTANT stream of traffic; at least now we have a fighting chance because drivers have to STOP at the 4-way intersection. Although STOP is not always the case because a lot of drivers believe that if the first person ahead of them stops, that counts for them stopping too! If the Town puts in a roundabout it doesn't serve the Malta residents but rather the Town of Milton, Galway, Saratoga residents who use the road to access the Northway. What are those towns doing for the Town of Malta residents?

Very good point!

do people have to wait a long time to get out of mcdonalds on Rt67, do they have to wait a long time to get out of the price chopper plaza?
the answer is no. and you would not have a long wait either. back up at that intersection is a problem that needs to be solved.

Round-about, PLEASE!

oh please god let this die, there are much greater concerns that this particular intersection that has a back up for may 20 min two times a day

IF YOU WILL LET IT DIE, THEN MAYBE IT WILL OR NOT HEHEHEH

uggg not this guy again

Another option: Eliminate the Old Post Road "Extension" to Malta Ave, and have people traveling to/from the village to Old Post, go to the Northiline/Malta Ave intersection. Then, give Northline the righ-of-way by eliminating the stop signs. ou could take it a step further by 1) No left turn from Old Post to Nortline, or 2) Right-hand turn-lane for Old Post to Northline.

Secondly, by fixing the backup on Northline in the AM, you'll create a FURTHER backup on Old Post/Route 9. There needs to be an "on-ramp to the on-ramp" from Old Post Northbound to I-87 Southbound. There is a swath of land that could be used right where Old Post comes into Route 9.

Malta Ave Bridge has been done for over a year now, yet still there are excessive backups at this intersection. A roundabout makes the most sense...

This intersection gets worse every morning. Today, at 7:20AM, the cars on Northline Road headed east bound were backed up from the 4 way stop sign all the way to the Old Ballston Avenue. What possible purpose does this serve? The direction the cars take once they stop at the 4 way interection is split with about 60% turning left onto Old Post Rd. and 40% going straight toward Malta Ave. How much gasoline is wasted each day?

Karen, a suggestion to solve your problem is find another way to get to work. Old Post Road is barely better than a residential street. It was never built or intended to handle the traffic that is does. I strongly oppose any attempt to improve the flow of traffic on Old Post Road. If the state and Feds would build an entrance/exit to the Northway from Malta Avenue, this question would become moot.

After 2 years of reporting this, traffic is backed up farther than ever in the mornings, and sometime in the evenings. Closing the issue unless someone else wants to push for an improvement here.

don't know why no one will investigate this issue further.
thank GOD I no longer have to face this problem anymore.

because it is not an issue, i drive it everyday and it is fine

well good for u kevin