Saxonville intersection improvement work isn’t expected to begin until next year at the earliest, but the dangerous traffic flow when cars try to turn left from Concord onto Danforth Street really needs to be addressed sooner.
Drivers waiting to turn onto Danforth can’t see traffic driving north on Concord because of cars stopped in the left-turn lane. And, drivers heading straight up Concord can’t see vehicles trying to make that left turn onto Danforth.
During a discussion on the District 2 Facebook group this week, I asked if it would be possible perhaps to put up a couple of big signs that say “STOP HERE ON RED” just before Danforth Street on Concord Street. While that’s not as good as moving the traffic lights, it would be better than nothing until the intersection work is done.
“I asked that question and was told yes,” At-Large City Council Janet Leombruno responded. “I plan on following up to hopefully get it done sooner than later.”
If cars stopped before Danforth, that would greatly improve visibility at the Concord/Central/Elm street intersection.
As for the planned Saxonville intersection improvement project, there was a DPW presentation before the City Council late last month. Key points I got from watching the video of that presentation:
- There will likely be a public meeting on the project this May
- Assuming available funding (there is a $6.125 million budget request), design work should be finished this year and go out to bid next winter for construction in Spring 2025. This project has been in the works since 2016.
- DPW hopes to do separate utility, water and sewer work ahead of the main project, hopefully this summer and fall.
- The main project will include sidewalk reconstruction, bike lanes, new ornamental street lighting, landscaping, and public off-street parking improvements.
- Putting the utilities underground will likely be too expensive, DPW Chief Engineer William Sedewitz said. Despite that, District 2 Councilor Brandon Ward put in a plea to try to find a way to do so. The intersection probably won’t see major work again for another 40 or 50 years, he pointed out, and putting the power lines underground would help create turn the area from a pass-through intersection people drive through to a destination. “The appearance of the intersection also plays into the type of businesses we attract,” he noted.
You can see DPW background material submitted to the City Council here.
The area involved in the project is below
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