The repairs over the Mountainview Avenue Bridge (Nyack-to-Valley Cottage) that began July 8 were expected to cause considerable traffic problems. So far, the feedback’s been somewhat positive. Sure, it’s a mess for residents of Mountainview Avenue to head out toward Christian Herald Road on the windy road, then turn right to Route 9W or left toward a couple connections to Route 303. An article Saturday, reviewing the traffic since the Wednesday closure, said most were saying their fears of massive delays had not materialized. The project is expected to take six weeks, max. The bridge also has a Thruway entrace, which is still accessible from Route 59 (yeah).

What’s become a significant complaint is drivers heading north on Christian Herald who use the residential Storms Road to cut over to Route 303, rather than continuing to Lake Road and making the quick left then left again at the Route 303 intersection. This week’s Watcher discusses the concerns of turning left from Storms Road on 303. There’s no light there, and it’s at a rise on the highway, so it’s not exactly a clear line of vision, plus, people speed on 303. But the Lake Road intersection is pretty notorious for confusion, too, with Christian Herald feeding in so close to 303 that there’s hardly any room to queue into the proper lane to turn left, proceed ahead or turn right.

But the difference is, there’s a light at Lake and 303, complete with a left-turn arrow. It’s hairy at times, especially in the morning (less so now that school’s out, since there are two elementary schools on different ends of Lake Road, so the usual school buses that can clog the area are mostly gone.) And if you want to go southbound on 303, say to pick up the Thruway, it seems like you’ll save time if you go down Storms Road instead of adding the distance up and back from Lake. But if you sitting there, inching out, waiting for your break to zoom left onto 303, is that worth the stress? And will it even save time?

Here’s what the forum posters advise on the Watcher column:

So start taking Christian Herald Road all the way to Rt 303 and stop cutting through Storms Road. Problem solved.

I also think she should take Christian Herald to Lake to 303. It’s not a hard intersection to navigate if you’re a good driver. You just have to be alert and paying attention to where everyone is going.