The Dunkirk Harbor Commission has again proposed remaking the traffic direction and pattern around Point Gratiot, this time approving a resolution to send to city leaders.

At a recent meeting, member Kurt Warmbrodt brought the issue up again, saying he doesn’t know how it will get any traction.

“When it was brought up I went to the Lighthouse and got a letter from them saying they totally approve of it,” Chairman Jim Nichols stated. “And now it’s up to city council and to go to the city police chief.”

Member Mike Rosing said he goes around the Point two or three times a day because, “I don’t have anything better to do and that’s a nice view.”

“When you get out to the Point, those people are coming down that road from Ontario, out of town, whatever, and turn them around. … I take them around to the right place but it’s foolish to have that thing. … I think we should go to the mayor,” Rosing added.

Warmbrodt said the argument over the years from people on West Point Drive was there was too much speedy traffic leaving the Point. Nichols asked Councilman-at-Large Willie Rosas if anything was brought up on the issue.

“I made a couple calls on that and I spoke with the chief of police and he told me that years ago they did a study on that and for them to do that they’d have to find some way to have a light on the other side where you’d be coming out,” Rosas stated. “He said back then when they did that study that wasn’t the safest thing.”

Nichols pointed out that would have put two stop lights within “300 feet.”

Member Al Zurawski noted Route 5 was a state road. “I don’t want to show my age here, but I remember that was the way it used to be,” he added.

“I don’t know who did the study, but obviously the police chief thinks it’s the right thing, but disappointing to all of us or most of us,” Warmbrodt said.

Meeting attendee Zen Olow suggested making the exit at Oak Street with vehicles then making a right turn onto Point Drive North and proceeding to the light at Route 5. Entrance into the Point could then come from the current direction of travel and the former direction past the Lighthouse. It was pointed out Oak Street is currently an exit route and had two-way traffic in years past.

“I just think, like the Lighthouse, it’s a positive thing for traffic flow,” Warmbrodt stated. “That’s why we’re looking at it.”

Zurawski said it has already been recommended by the commission to have the Do Not Enter signs at the current exit point near the Lighthouse moved closer to the DEC fisheries station so that could be used as a turnaround before large vehicles got to the narrower turnaround where the signs are.

“At least if you have a huge motorhome coming in they have the ability to at least get into the driveway and not back up, attempt to back up, with cars behind them,” Zurawski explained. “You could actually get turned around there right now. That was one solution.”

Nichols said two entrances and one exit seemed like a good idea.

“It would be a heck of a good thing for the Lighthouse to get those people going through there,” Rosing added.

Rosas said the commission should propose the idea.

“It’s a relatively easy fix,” member Gene Pauszek added.

The next step, if any, will be up to city officials. According to the City Code, the commission is a group of seven volunteers which acts as an advisory committee to the Common Council, specifically in relation to all of the lakefront area in the city. The commission is also charged with acting in an advisory capacity to help coordinate state, county and local government efforts along with making recommendations in developing the area, identify potential problems and recommend solutions.

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