WESTBROOK – Westbrook’s state representative is taking up the plea from the city to the state Department of Transportation to help remedy a dangerous intersection on Route 302.

“I’m taking it to them,” said Ann Peoples, D-Westbrook, who said she would be discussing the matter with transportation officials this week.

The road intersects with Pride Street in the city’s Prides Corner section. For many years, drivers have complained that turning left onto Pride Street or onto Brook Street, which also intersects there, is risky on the busy roadway, which serves as a conduit to and from Portland.

Drivers got partial relief last summer, when the state was doing work on the Mill Brook Bridge and Little Bridge, which caused detours to send heavier traffic onto Route 302. City Administrator Jerre Bryant said he lobbied the state to improve signaling at the Pride/Brook street intersection to accommodate the volume.

The state agreed, putting in a left-turn lane and left-turn signal for northbound traffic turning onto Pride Street.

But that’s only half the problem. Southbound drivers who wish to turn left onto Brook Street still have to guess when it is safe to turn, and, Peoples said, that’s not good enough.

“The intersection is a near-death experience,” People said.

Bryant said the city has always intended to press the issue with the state, but couldn’t act until the state had finished its work on the bridges. That allowed traffic volumes on 302 to return to normal, allowing for state officials to conduct traffic studies, Bryant said.

This week, data from 2008-2010 show eight accidents have occurred at the intersection, according to City Engineer Eric Dudley. While Dudley said the data show no evidence of a worsening trend, residents in the area say for every accident that happens, there are a large number of near-misses.

“I’ve had a couple (of residents) that expressed concern,” said City Councilor Mike Sanphy.

Peoples, who sits on the House’s Transportation Committee, said she expects to meet with state officials this week and work out when the signal could be improved. Peoples said she herself has had a few near-miss experiences with the intersection.

“We need to get something done,” she said.

Sanphy said he and others who live in the area hope the southbound lane can get a left-turn signal soon to prevent a tragedy.

“They’re really worried about somebody getting killed up there. I am, too.”