2 min read

The Tri-For-a-Cure is a wonderful cause. This year’s event raised more than $2 million in the fight against cancer, and I applaud all the participants for their amazing fundraising efforts. But when it comes to traffic control and road closures associated with the event, it was far from amazing. It was atrocious.

My 10-minute drive to my mother’s house on Preble Street in South Portland took more than an hour. There are several different ways I can get to her home, via Broadway, Thompson Street, Smith Street or Cottage Road. All options were blocked.

At one point a policeman diverted me down Thompson, where I was met with cones blocking the road about 100 yards away, forcing me to turn around and ask him where he’d like me to go now. When I did finally manage to get onto Smith Street, cars were parked on both sides of the road, leaving one lane on a two-way street. This resulted in gridlock with cars pointing at each other in opposite directions. No police were to be found here, so we the drivers had to fight for ourselves to turn our cars around and clear the road.

Organizers must improve their efforts next year or find a different location. If my elderly mother had an emergency, there was no way for me to get to her. That’s just unacceptable. Planners need to keep the locals in mind because the situation created this year was just downright dangerous.

Ted Varipatis
South Portland

Join the Conversation

Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.