Main Street (Route 117) and Wattaquadock Hill Road

In 2018, BETA assisted the Town in securing a MassWorks grant for $975,000 to improve the intersection of Main Street (Route 117) and Wattaquadock Hill Road at the center of the downtown area. The project improved pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety by installing a traffic signal at the intersection and upgrading the roadway corridors in its vicinity. A key aspect of the project was the inclusion of emergency vehicle pre-emption equipment as part of the proposed signal. With the Town’s public safety building just south of the intersection, improving the ability for emergency vehicles to pass through the intersection with minimal delay will have a significant impact on shortening response times. The project manager worked closely with the project team to develop design plans and a cost estimate. BETA and Department of Public Works Director Joseph Lynch hosted an abutters meeting during early design stages to present their conceptual design and solicit feedback. They used the information gathered from the public to finalize a design, which they then presented at a Board of Selectmen meeting to formally receive approval from the Town. BETA prepared a rendering of the proposed improvements, which helped the Board and abutters to visualize exactly how the project would improve their downtown area.