Thursday, January 4, 2007 Older Editions

2007: The year of the traffic cone?

By Brian Messenger

Communities across the state are seeing a steady rise in the volume of vehicles on their roadways. Safety Officer Bob Cronin believes traffic issues in Andover have driven the town to the front of the gridlocked pack in Massachusetts.

But in 2007 Andover residents should see some progress toward improving traffic noise and congestion.

"Over the course of the last 10 years or so, traffic has just grown exponentially in town and I think it will continue to grow," said Cronin. "Traffic's certainly an issue."

As a new year begins, residents can look ahead to progress on a multitude of road projects in 2007 - some under construction, some nearly ready to begin, and others still in the planning and design phase. Sound barriers along a section of Interstate 93 also have been approved and, when installed, should reduce traffic noise to residents.

Several road projects are geared toward delivering at least some degree of traffic relief.

To the disappointment of town officials and local legislators, the long-awaited Main Street reconstruction project has been delayed until at least the spring, when state contract bidding will resume.

If the state's Executive Office of Transportation receives the needed funding to continue its new projects in 2007, residents will likely see a green light on construction by the summer.

"The Main Street project, while certainly beautifying Main Street to a certain degree, also is going to allow traffic to flow a little easier through the downtown," said Cronin. "That's a win-win for the town."

Most of the $3.35 million project on Route 28 will be paid for by the state.

Similar results were sought on Route 125 in Andover, where a $1.3 million project has looked to improve the roadways and traffic signals.

Three intersection upgrades at the intersections of Prospect, Vine, and Wildwood streets, as well as the installation of three overhead flashing traffic lights at the Prospect and Wildwood intersections will help direct traffic more efficiently on Route 125, said Eric Abel, assistant press secretary for MassHighway.

Minor changes to the roadway include adding left-turn lanes, according to Abel.

"Communities throughout the Commonwealth are undergoing road projects that involve all sorts of safety and traffic issues," said Abel.

Cronin agreed, but due to its proximity to Boston and the two major highways that cut through the town, he believes Andover has more traffic issues than most.

"I think a lot of communities that are experiencing growth are feeling this," he said. "I think Andover's pretty close to the top of the list."

Noting traffic backups in Ballardvale as well as on Dascomb Road near Interstate 93, Cronin said, "Each area of town has its own unique issues for traffic."

A proposed I-93 interchange in the Lowell Junction area has been residents' object of desire for years, as they believe it to be the key to traffic relief, while businesses headquartered in Ballardvale contend it will be the key to potential expansion.

Officials in Andover, Tewksbury and Wilmington worked together throughout 2006 to propose several interchange designs to state and federal officials for approval.

Those involved with the designs say all of the designs will improve the traffic problems in Ballardvale. But some residents worry a proposed "loop" style interchange, which would not include connections to existing Tewksbury streets where a proposed mall will likely be built, will actually cause an influx of traffic into the Ballardvale area.

"My view is that the loop is designed to benefit a few landowners," said Terry Szold, an Andover resident since 1997 and a former member of the Lowell Junction Interchange Task Force. "I think it's monumentally misguided."

Until a interchange is built, and that's still likely years away, traffic congestion in Ballardvale will remain.

"That's going to continue until an interchange is completed down there," said Cronin. "I don't see any other relief in sight."