BRATTLEBORO — With the end of winter and return of warmer weather, work is set to resume on the Main Street reconstruction project.
According to Debra Spaulding, public relations officer for Lane Construction Corp., the primary contractor for the project, the last phase should begin in early May.
Since work shut down for the winter on Dec. 17, Spaulding said the following work has been done to the traffic signals in the downtown area:
• The radio interconnect between the four signal systems on Main Street was completed and the signals are now running in coordination from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The railroad pre-emption for the four signals was completed and now working as per design.
• Additional “yield to oncoming traffic on green” signs were added to the arms of the signal poles over the left turning lanes.
• Additional signs were added to the pedestrian poles to inform pedestrians that to activate the crossing signal, the yellow buttons have to be pushed.
• And some minor changes were made to the signal system to allow better traffic flow during the non-coordination hours.
Spaulding said that these changes had been originally planned for the spring, when the final pavement markings were to be installed. The project manager requested that the signal designers complete the work on the signals during the winter months instead of waiting until spring.
These changes are now in their 30-day test period, said Spaulding, and the designers are now looking into potential changes based public response as well as what is being observed in the field. Some of those new changes include:
• Checking the zones for the cameras throughout the project to ensure all vehicle traffic is being received. The cycles at the Route 142, Flat Street, and Elliot Street intersections were either being skipped or added. She said all the cameras will need to be checked after the final pavement markings are placed this spring.
• Looking into improving traffic flow during the railroad pre-emption.
• Adding lighted “no right turn” signs at the intersections of Flat, Elliot and High streets that light when the pedestrian phase is on. She said this will allow the “no right turn on red” signs that have been installed to be removed and allow traffic to make a right turn on red except for when the pedestrian phase is on.
• Adding “no right turn on red” signs at the northbound junction of Main Street and Routes 142 and 119. Spaulding said this will eliminate the dangerous situation of northbound traffic on Main Street turning onto Route 119, and Route 119 traffic turning onto Main Street, during the red light. She said this is dangerous and illegal because that traffic has to go through the Route 142 intersection while the light is green.
• Adding “do not block intersection” signs for Main Street traffic at Flat, Elliot and High streets to allow better movement from these side roads.
• And, if possible, trying to improving the flow of traffic on Main Street southbound in the afternoon, mainly the left-turn traffic going to Route 119.
Spaulding said that the remaining construction work on the project includes sidewalks on High and Elliot streets, concrete steps at the South Main Street intersection, and the placement of permanent pavement markings.
She said she hopes to meet with as many Main Street merchants and business owners as possible before construction resumes.
Any other questions or concerns can be directed to project superintendent Fred Cheney at 413-498-0254 or [email protected].