Crossroads 20 Cinema and Crossroads Boulevard

The Crossroads 20-theater multiplex opened in December 1999 on Crossroads boulevard behind the Crossroads Shopping center. Residents and town leaders raised concerns about the impact of this multiplex located so close to a large shopping center, with great attention paid to the capacity of the roadway for automobile traffic. Unfortunately, too little attention was paid to sidewalk connectivity or pedestrian safety. No sidewalk connects this multiplex to the restaurants and shops immediately next door. Pedestrians must walk over flowers and shrubs or walk in a dangerous four-lane road. This not so much the fault of the theater developer as a general inadequacy of the rest of the Crossroads area sidewalk network.

 

The Crossroads 20 multiplex is located behind the Crossroads Shopping center. Note the large parking lot provided for drivers. The sidewalk in the foreground was installed parallel to Crossroads Boulevard.

 

The Crossroads Boulevard sidewalk ends here behind Service Merchandise. A ramp directs pedestrian and wheelchair users into  a four-lane road.

 

To reach the restaurants and shops from the end of the sidewalk, pedestrians have a choice of trampling over flowers or walking in the four-lane street where vehicle speeds often exceed 50 mph. This type of street design sends pedestrians the message that walking is irresponsible and that driving is the right thing to do.

 

The wide road and a lack of traffic signals makes crossing Crossroads Boulevard a nerve-racking experience. Motorist often fail to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks here. It is not surprising that shoppers often make multiple car trips within the shopping center, creating additional traffic and using multiple parking spaces during a single outing.