Didn't see the suggestion for one stop sign on Amelia yesterday but that could be a good alternative to the 3-way. It would slow the traffic on Amelia and make the left turn more manageable. The lighter traffic on Wash Ave would move through in both directions so cars on Amelia would not be waiting long to make turns. Good idea whoever thought of it.

Whatever the solution is, it needs to be drunk-proof. It seems that well-designed bollards that fit the character of the city may be the best solution.

I think that Ed nailed it yesterday. But the problem arises when the discussion to spend ANY money starts within the city. People get greedy, and suddenly Ed's simple effective idea (from yesterdays article) becomes "inadaquate" and people who own the guard rail company start lobbying agianst the Bollard company for a City Bid. Sorry I'm not trying to sound cynical just realistic.

The last two accidents involved Ford Explorers, so Ford Explorers should be banned! Just kidding!! There needs to something in between an oncoming vehicle and the wall to protect the wall. A stop sign or traffic light won't do much good when the driver is somehow compromised.

Folks, we need more perspective on this...Amelia St-Washington Ave is not a heavy traffic crash area. In fact, it is far from it. The city police crime analyst came up with these figures for the city's "hot spots" for crashes.

"While Washington Ave at Amelia St is being studied for improvements to decrease the number of accidents there, it’s important to keep it in perspective when considering it a “hot spot” for traffic crashes. "

Top accident locations for 2011:
PLANK RD/CARL D SILVER PKWY: 56

BLUE & GRAY/LAFAYETTE BLVD: 31

PLANK RD/GATEWAY BLVD: 28

CARL D SILVER/FALL HILL AVE: 22

JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY/WILLIAM ST: 19

When it comes down to it, this is a very minor problem that is made out to be a more serious issue because each time a wall is crumbled. Fixing the wall does not cost the cemetery any money. Insurance pays for fixing the wall. This is an aesthetic issue because the wall is a mosaic of different bricks but that is never going to change. Spending big bucks to stop what essentially is one person crashing into this wall a year would be truly a questionable use of taxpayer money, wouldn't it? This is not a dangerous intersection, no one is ever seriously injured in any of these crashes because the speed limit is so low (25mph) and really, 4 out of the 5 past wall crashes were drunk drivers.

Well said, Dan. Cost benefit is key, esp with taxpayer's money. This is a private cemetery and a private wall. I wonder why we all assume it's the city's financial responsibility to build a barricade?

I mean this isn't even really a safety issue when most of the incidents involved drunk drivers. 99 percent of the drivers don't hit that wall because they are not driving drunk.

In January of 08 I walked my dog past thsi wall at 11 am on a sunny clear day. an hour later I walked back past this wall and there was a big hole punched in it. I am lucky to be able to write this letter today.

There was one more accident not reported - a truck delivering supplies to the Free Lance Star also backed into the wall. It was about the same time as the drunk who hit the wall driving from William Street hit the wall. Fixing the stop sign at Amelia will not mitigate someone out of control from William street. People drive too fast in this area but a bigger problem is the road itself. That is why the City should be resposible for fixing this situation.

If you go and look at this road, you will notice that it has a high crown in the middle and the curve slopes away from the crown on the outside of the curve. The road should slope down from the outside of the turn towards the inside of the curve. That is why many drivers go over the curb or hit the curb or swerve coming around this turn. The issue is not just the wall, but the many hits to trees, curbs and sweves going around that turn. Go and stand there for a few minutes and tell me you don't feel fear. This might not be the most dangerous as far as accidnets, but as far as danger to pedestrians, this is a major catastrophe waiting to happen.

Anne Little, Tree Fredericksburg

There used to be a huge tree in front of the current hole in the wall that had been hit so many times it had a huge gouge in it. If you're afraid of getting hit, don't stand in that spot. However, if they took out the stop signs on Washington & added one on Amelia at Wash Ave, cars would not be taking the curve so fast. Unfortunately, drunk or drugged drivers could hit someone anywhere at any time. When your number is up, it's up.

The bollards around the Hugh Mercer statue are smaller and metal with chain between them. If they continue the theme down Wash Ave to William with closer spacing, it would be attractive (without being out of place) and provide some additional protection.

My main perspective would be to stop people from drinking and driving, since most of the accidents involve alcohol, but we obviously see that is not going to happen :( Therefore the next best thing is bollards that will prevent the vehicles from actually hitting the wall itself.

tthree way stop sign to start. Inexpensive and if someone hits the wall from blowing past stop sign, they are probably drinking and or in a rush and would run a stop sign somewhere else anyway. Think its a good start. See how that works out for 6 months or so..

Considering how Fredericksburg's Economic Development Authority is dealing with Buffalo Wild Wings, maybe we should give people $1,000 every time they DON'T run into the wall.

It was my understanding that the EDA makes its money by issuing tax-exempt bonds on behalf of select businesses (i.e., the government picks winners and losers) and then charging those businesses a small fee for the cheaper loans. Otherwise, the interest on the loans would generate tax revenue (and lessen the burden on the individual taxpayer.) As an example, an $80 million loan at 4% (if not for the EDA) would generate $3.2 million of taxable interest annually. At a Romney-esque tax rate of 15%, this would result in tax revenues of $480,000 every year. This is a great deal for the government-selected company, but hardly a good deal for the individual taxpayer. It is simply another way to funnel money to businesses while the individual taxpayer foots the bill. GE would be so proud.