Politics & Government
Left-Turn Message Heard: Selectmen to Vote on Allowing Washington Street Turns
After several public meetings and resistance against a proposed left-hand-turn ban, the Dedham Board of Selectmen will consider a vote on April 28.
In a turn of events - so to speak - the Dedham Board of Selectmen will consider a vote to reverse a plan to ban left-hand turns from High Street onto Washington Street as part of the Dedham Square Improvement Project.
Engineers from the BETA Group, a town-hired engineering company, and the town's own engineering department presented a plan on April 5 that would prohibit drivers from making left turns onto Washington Street in Dedham Square. Engineers said the ban would ease the flow of traffic once the Dedham Square Improvement Project is completed.
Selectmen chair Jim MacDonald, however, released a statement Wednesday afternoon stating the board would consider reversing that plan at their April 28 meeting.
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"We have heard a lot of very valuable debate and discussion and are prepared to consider and recommend changes to the project as a result," MacDonald said.
Under either scenerio, MacDonald said the town would evaluate traffic flow after three, six and 12 months.
Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Engineers said if left-hand turns were allowed, traffic would routinely form long queues during rush hour times.
Opponents to the left-hand turns said it would re-route traffic to streets unable to handle an increase in traffic volume - including Bryant Street and East Street.
Selectmen heard feedback from Town Meeting members on April 11, and received scrutiny from Finance Committee member Derek Moulton for not completing a full traffic study that would look at the effects of the ban on neighboring streets.
The new plan would have "storage lanes" - or turn-only lanes - that would help traffic flow, according to the press release.
The board will also vote on extending the project 75 yards on Washington Street from the intersection of School Street to the intersection of Bryant Street. This part of the project would only happen if bids came in favorably, MacDonald said.
"We are pleased that the process is working, that we are moving toward the very best project for the community," he said.
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