By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department Recent upgrades to the traffic signal at the intersection of Routes 197 and 12 (West Main Street and Schofield Ave.) have generated a great deal of comment, most of it positive. Thanks to an initiative spearheaded by our Town Clerk, Ms. Ora Finn, a new traffic signal was approved at town meeting last fall and installed in February. Turn arrows and a new cycling of lights have enabled drivers in the area to pass through the intersection safer. This past week, I was asked why the turn arrows are not cycled to occur at the same time? I wanted to provide some information to the public on this situation. This intersection is divided into turn lanes for both east and westbound traffic. One of the problem spots at this intersection involves West Main Street traffic heading to Webster. Prior to this upgrade, there was no turn arrow for this traffic. As a result, vehicles intending to turn left onto Village Street, had difficulties passing through safely. The addition of designated turn arrows in both directions on West Main Street has greatly improved safety in the area. The lights cycle in two stages for the West Main Street traffic. When drivers are headed east toward Webster, the green signal and arrow will activate first. This will stay active for approximately 10-15 seconds. The green arrow then fades out while the through traffic is allowed to proceed. At this time, the solid green signal for the westbound traffic starts. After several seconds, the eastbound traffic will have the red signal. When this occurs, the westbound green arrow activates, allowing traffic to turn onto Route 12 south (Schofield Ave.). The reason they operate at different times is primarily due to the design of the intersection. Village Street is particularly narrow and turning vehicles must travel some distance into the intersection before doing so. The concern is if both turn arrows were activated at the same time, it could cause an accident, as these vehicles would be very close to one another. Therefore, the alternating arrows made the most sense at this time. This is one of the locations in town that is heavily traveled and requires a major upgrade. These new signals are considered more of a temporary solution. We are exploring long term fixes. In the meantime, it is important for people to pay attention to the signals and try not to block the intersection. This area is very tight for the volume of traffic and it has been the site of many crashes. The extra attention and cooperation from drivers is greatly appreciated. |
As a reminder, on Saturday, April 28 from 9 am to 1:00 pm, the Dudley Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will conduct another prescription drug “Take Back” event. The public has the opportunity to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous. During our previous events, large quantities of prescription medications were taken in. In addition, a needle drop box will also be available for those who need to safely dispose of medical sharps. Several communities in our area will also be participating in this event. If you are not from Dudley, check for a participating location near you. I encourage everyone to mark their calendars and take advantage of this opportunity.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, MA 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. |
|