PEABODY — Life hasn't been the same for Sotirios Korisianos and his wife, Bessie, since the traffic light appeared above the intersection by their home.
Cars stopped at the intersection of Washington Street and Allen's Lane now block the Korisianoses' driveway, making it hard for them to get in or out. And pulling out into traffic poses an unwelcome challenge.
"When you get out of my driveway, you can't see the light because you're almost under it," Korisianos said. He can't tell if it is red or green.
"I gamble with my life and my wife's life," said the 67-year-old Korisianos, who has lived at 252 Washington St. since 1974.
The city installed the light about six months ago at the request of neighbors and drivers, City Planner Nate Jones said. It should reduce the high number of accidents at the intersection and calm traffic on Washington Street, a busy link between South Peabody and downtown.
The light allows motorists turning from Allen's Lane, particularly making left turns, to move through the intersection safely. It is also a response to requests from several area residents whose children walk to Higgins Middle School, which is off Allen's Lane. Students and other pedestrians can now safely cross Washington Street.
But the light has caused headaches for drivers almost since the moment it became operational. City councilors have complained at two separate meetings about the traffic jams created at the beginning and end of the workday. Councilor-at-large Dave Gravel recently asked the council's Municipal Safety Committee to explore whether it would be possible to suspend operation of the light during all nonschool hours.
The city has opted to adjust the signal timing to improve traffic flow. It has also added signs and altered street markings at the request of neighbors and drivers, Jones said.
But the painted warning on the street outside the couple's driveway has not stopped people from blocking it, Korisianos said. And even when it is adhered to, drivers waiting to turn onto Allen's Lane in an adjacent and new left-turn lane are pulled forward, impeding his ability to turn left onto Washington, he said.
"It just doesn't work," said Korisianos, a retired turbine engineer. "Anybody who has a house, they have a right to get in and out of his driveway. We all pay taxes, and we all have the same rights."
Instead of leaning down and looking up, like he does to glimpse the light, Korisianos has asked his wife to avoid taking a left turn, toward South Peabody, out of their driveway.
"She's got a back problem, she's got a knee replacement; she can't do that in the car," Korisianos said. "It's a very, very bad risk." He wants her to turn right, then turn around on a side street and reverse direction on Washington Street.
When an engineer sat in the Korisianoses' kitchen a few years ago and explained the changes in store for the intersection, he said sensors controlling the light would be placed at the end of their driveway, according to Korisianos.
"I took his word," he said. But the sensors haven't been installed.
Maybe the light could be lowered and the warning against blocking could be extended to the new turning lane, Korisianos said. He and his wife have appeared once before the City Council and are hopeful the council's Municipal Safety Committee will be able to address some of their issues.
The city, meanwhile, will continue to do whatever is possible to satisfy the concerns of neighbors while keeping the intersection safe for drivers and pedestrians, Jones said. Korisianos has himself and his wife in mind.
"I don't mind waiting a minute to get out of my driveway," he said. "But I have to get out safely."
