Salisbury redesigning intersections to improve safety

SALISBURY, Md. – If you’re driving around Salisbury, it may seem like there’s a lot of construction going on and that’s because road crews are working on 20 different intersections throughout the city.

It’s all part of Salisbury Vision Zero, which is a series of projects that will redesign intersections where there’s a history of pedestrian injuries and deaths to make them safer.

One of those intersections on South Park Drive and Memorial Plaza by the zoo, is popular for runners to use and one that the city gets many complaints about from residents who say it’s too dangerous to cross.

“As we narrow the lanes and introduce points of refuge where a pedestrian can stop in the middle of the street on their way across the street while they’re waiting for a car to pass, those sorts of things contribute to reducing the speed of traffic, improving the safety of the pedestrian and ultimately hopefully achieving that goal of zero,” explains Salisbury Mayor Jake Day.

Mayor Day also sent legislation to the city council that would make this the law of the land to always design Salisbury’s intersections with safety in mind and safety of the pedestrian first and foremost.

This legislation would also lower the speed limit from 30 to 25 on unmarked city streets.