A traffic study and redesigns from consulting firm Barton & Loguidice were presented to the village Development Board Tuesday night.

These designs are preliminary. Because River Street and Lake Flower Avenue are pieces of state Route 86, any redesign would be the state Department of Transportation’s decision.

On Wednesday, village Manager John Sweeney stressed that none of the designs are set in stone and can still go through changes before being presented to the DOT. The village Board of Trustees also needs to provide input. There is no timeline for when the village would present its preference to the DOT, he said.

Sweeney said a redesign of this intersection has been discussed for almost two decades. With North Country Community College and the under-construction Saranac Waterfront Lodge on Lake Flower Avenue being so close to the intersection, he said that motivated another look at the thoroughfares.

Alternative 1 would keep the intersection of River Street, Lake Flower Avenue and Brandy Brook Avenue similar to its current layout but add more crosswalks, signage and bike lanes. (Image provided)

The traffic study and designs were funded by the Saranac Waterfront Lodge as part of its zoning requirements.

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Existing intersection

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Currently, River Street extends down a right-hand curve around Pontiac Bay onto Lake Flower Avenue and also has a stop sign on a traffic island for drivers going straight onto Brandy Brook Avenue.

Alternative 2 would create a T-intersection where River Street, Lake Flower Avenue and Brandy Brook Avenue meet. (Image provided)

Lake Flower Avenue meets River Street at almost a 90-degree angle, but drivers on it have the right of way rather than those coming off Brandy Brook Avenue. This spot is notorious for drivers stopping when they should be turning left onto River Street.

Brandy Brook Avenue has a stop sign at the intersection and a crosswalk at that sign. Drivers turning left from Brandy Brook onto Lake Flower Avenue also have another stop sign at the traffic island.

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Alternative 1

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Alternative 3 would replace the intersection of River Street, Lake Flower Avenue and Brandy Brook Avenue with a traffic circle. (Image provided)

The first redesign would change the intersection the least.

It would add crosswalks from Lake Flower Avenue to the traffic island and from the traffic island to the Pontiac Bay side of River Street. The traffic island would also be reduced in size.

Bike lanes would be added to Lake Flower Avenue and River Street. That goes for all three proposals.

The board liked this less-intrusive idea the most but said it needs changing.

Board member Donna Difara said she didn’t like so many crosswalks leading to the traffic island, which she views as dangerous.

Board member David Trudeau recommended moving the Lake Flower Avenue crosswalk closer to the hotel entrance, past Winona Avenue. He said it would be simpler to navigate. Other board members agreed and said that would be a better option.

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Alternative 2

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The second proposal is more complex, reconfiguring the area into a T-intersection.

It would remove the traffic island and the curved part of River Street entirely, making the intersection more angular. Stop signs would be added to the River Street lane turning onto Lake Flower Avenue and vice versa. Two crosswalks would connect River Street and Lake Flower Avenue.

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Alternative 3

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The last idea would replace the intersection with a traffic circle.

The board members didn’t like this idea.

Nobody from the public attended this portion of the board meeting.