Politics & Government

Dover Selectmen Hear Recommendations from Dedham Street Study

Dirk recommended a modern roundabout at the intersection of Dedham Street and Centre Street in Dover.

The Dover Board of Selectmen heard recommendations from the transportation engineering and planning company who have been studying the conditions of the Dedham Street corridor at their meeting Thursday night.

Jeffrey Dirk, vice president of Vanasse & Associates Inc. in Andover, presented their short-term and long-term recommendations to the selectmen in regard to safety and traffic conditions on Dedham Street, Cross Street and Centre Street and the streets they intersect.

Many of the short-term recommendations were to add signs and pavement markings and to trim trees to improve line of sight issues.

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Dirk said that the short-term recommendations help address the issue of safety on those roads.

As part of their long-term recommendations, Dirk suggested that the town consider installing a “modern roundabout” at the intersection of Dedham Street and Centre Street.

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Dirk said that currently the intersection of Dedham and Centre Streets meets all state and federal criteria to install a traffic light based on the amount of volume both streets see. However, he said that with the traffic light in the center of town, having two lights in such close proximity would not be as effective as the roundabout.

“We think that the modern roundabout is something that could accommodate the additional traffic demands that are in that area and fit in very well with the town center environment that is here,” Dirk said.

He said that they could give the roundabout distinct features so that it would not detract from historic character of the town and the area.

Another long-term recommendation was to have the raised crosswalks on Dedham Street at Caryl Park removed the next time the road is resurfaced.

The crosswalks have been a point of contention by some of the residents of Dedham Street who say that the raised crosswalks cause a lot of noise when large trucks drive over them throughout the day.

“The roadway itself doesn’t meet the criteria for actually having the raised crossings in place based on the current volume of traffic that’s using the road,” Dirk said.

He said that the raised crosswalk has not been efficient enough in slowing the rate of speed in which drivers travel down the road and also that raised features are generally used in residential areas where the speed limit is 30 m.p.h. or less. Dedham Street’s speed limit is 40 m.p.h.

He recommended that if the raised crossings are removed they be replaced with a standard crosswalk and add a pedestrian actuated signal for people trying to cross the street.

After the presentation by Dirk, the selectmen asked questions and discussed his recommendations.

Selectman James Dawley said he was disappointed that the issue of speeding on Dedham Street was not addressed to the degree that he would have liked.

“As a selectmen I have to view this one way, as a townsperson and a father of young children I view it a little differently, quite honestly. And I was disappointed that there’s no silver bullet in this particular report to fix the speed problem on Dedham Street which I personally think is the number one problem.”

Selectman Joe Melican said that safety should be the main concern with regard to any of the recommendations.

 “All we have to do is have one child hit over on Dedham Street and that’s going to throw out two or three years of work here. We’ve got to get concerned on that and whether it’s sight line and whether it’s speed and whether it’s enforcement. I don’t have the answer but I hope someone does soon,” Melican said.

The board said they would take into consideration Dirk’s recommendations and would discuss them further.


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