Left turns at McDonald's

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
September 19, 2010

Left turning drivers at McDonald's are still a problem.

Four-five years ago I pointed the problems out to the City of Woodstock, but it would not act to improve safety. I was hoping that the remodeling of the Woodstock McDonald's and the reconfiguration of the entrance/exit on Route 47 would solve the problem, but it didn't.

The following letter is being sent to Mayor Sager, the Woodstock City Council, City Manager, Public Works Director, Streets Division head and a corporate manager at McDonald's.

Let's hope somebody does something before there is a serious accident right in front of McDonald's.

"Dear Mayor Sager,

"I am writing to request your personal intervention to solve the problem occurring on Route 47 at the entrance/exit of the remodeled McDonald's. The new configuration of the Route 47 entrance/exit has not solved a problem that I first reported to the City of Woodstock 4-5 years ago.

"The problems are with 1) northbound drivers on Route 47 turning left into McDonald's and 2) exiting drivers turning left to northbound Route 47.

"When I contacted McDonald's 4-5 years ago, they were not opposed to prohibiting left turns out of McDonald's. IDOT will not act to install No Left Turns signs without a request from the City of Woodstock. The City of Woodstock will not make the request.

"This week-end I observed a northbound driver stopped fully in the southbound (oncoming) left-turn lane, as he waited for southbound traffic to clear. I met him head-on in the southbound left-turn lane. That driver had pulled into the oncoming traffic lane so as not to block northbound traffic behind him.

"I also observed a woman driver on a cell phone exiting McDonald's onto Route 47 to turn left and go north. She had to cross three southbound lanes - dangerous at any time of day.

"I do not understand the reluctance of the City to improve safety at this location. Will you or another member of the City Council please help?"