Drivers on High Plain Road will soon need to stop at Greenwood Road after the Andover Select Board unanimously approved a new four-way stop at the intersection.
The board voted to amend the town's traffic rules and regulations at its Tuesday, Oct. 13, meeting, the Eagle-Tribune reported. The change converts the High Plain Road and Greenwood Road intersection to an all-way stop.
The vote is the latest in a series of stop-sign upgrades the board has approved this year as part of an ongoing effort to make local streets safer.
In January, the board voted 5-0 on four separate amendments to the town's traffic rules, according to Select Board meeting minutes. Those changes converted intersections at North Street and Greenwood Road, Chandler Road and Greenwood Road, Cutler Road and Reservation Road, and Harold Parker Road and Jenkins Road to all-way or three-way stops.
Andover Safety Officer Glen Ota and Director of Public Works Carlos Jaquez presented the January proposals with a slide presentation. They cited accident history, visual impediments and intersection shape as reasons for the added signage. Mr. Lindstrom gave an overview of the framework for selecting locations, which included resident input, state agencies and a transportation working group, according to the minutes. Data was analyzed in a formal study.
Board member Alex Vispoli thanked the public for emails the board received and noted the Jenkins Road signage came about through the town's Participatory Budget process.
Ota, who served the town for 30 years, retired in late summer, according to Aug. 24 Select Board minutes. Vice Chair Melissa Morris Danisch praised his work at the August meeting, noting his role in traffic safety and his presence at the farmers market. Officer Elliot Siegel has since taken on safety duties.
The board has also been working toward hiring a dedicated traffic engineer, a Department of Public Works position that may fall within Public Safety, according to July 13 meeting minutes. Board member Kevin Coffey noted at that meeting that a recent resident survey showed residents want to be part of the traffic-planning process.
High Plain Road runs near schools. A water main break near 320 High Plain Road on Oct. 2 shut down the street in both directions and forced detours onto Greenwood Road, Patch reported. "This will affect school traffic," officials said at the time.
No installation date for the new stop signs has been announced. Select Board meetings are televised on Andover46.com, Comcast Channel 22 and Verizon Channel 45.
