Ryland Pike is a street with many traffic issues that need to be addressed. Chief among those is the railroad crossing on the western end of Ryland Pike, as it poses multiple safety hazards.
Rough crossing
The crossing on Ryland Pike is raised a good two feet above the road approaching the crossing, such that you have a quick upgrade, the crossing, and a quick downgrade. The crossing itself has not had any cushioning material added, unlike other crossings in the county. The crossing needs some material added to make it easier on cars crossing, and the approach needs to be more gradual.
Roads and angles
The second issue is that the crossing has roads coming into Ryland Pike at an angle at the crossing on both sides of the crossing. Immediately east of the crossing, Harmening Road comes into Ryland Pike at a sharp angle from the north, and immediately west of the crossing, Old Ryland Gin Road joins Ryland Pike at a sharp angle from the south. A solution would be to have Harmening Road cross the tracks and tie in to Ryland Pike across from a realigned Old Ryland Gin Road, such that the two roads join Ryland Pike as a straightened intersection. Even if that is impossible, traffic signals for the two sides roads could be added for safety due to the limited sight distance, tied into the timing for the railroad signals, which should also be placed on the two side roads due to their close proximity to the railroad crossing.
Signs of the railroad times
There is a yellow railroad ahead sign for eastbound traffic on Ryland Pike. However, there is no such sign for westbound traffic on Ryland Pike. A sign needs to be placed on that side due to heavy traffic and limited sight distances approaching the crossing.
Ryland Pike has a railroad crossing with multiple issues. However, if those issues are addressed, it can be a safe and easily-traveled crossing.
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