BYFIELD — The town will try some experimental changes over the next couple of months to improve traffic flow and safety in Byfield Village.
Selectman Michael Bulgaris headed up a team of officials, who looked at traffic patterns after former Town Moderator John Salter and Lunt Street resident John Ashton made some recommendations to the board on June 9.
Bulgaris' study group included police Chief Michael Reilly, fire Chief Bill Pearson, Department of Public Works superintendent Tim Leonard and Town Planner Martha Taylor.
The changes will be implemented as soon as the necessary signage is completed and will be observed through September, Bulgaris said.
The group wants to make Church Street one-way westerly from Central Street to Downfall Road, and to make that intersection a four-way stop. The intent is to slow down traffic from West Newbury cutting between Main and Central streets en route to and from nearby Interstate 95.
Lunt Street would be made one-way westerly from Central to Main streets, and the egress onto Main Street would be reconfigured so that it is not quite as sharp an angle.
The plan is intended to improve visibility at the intersection of Lunt and Main and to prevent vehicles using Lunt Street as a shortcut to get to I-95.
The intersection of Main and Central streets would be lined to make lanes clearer. If the experiment were successful, Bulgaris said the committee would recommend installation of a concrete traffic island similar to the one at High Road and Parker Street. That island divides the roads but can still be driven over.
The newly expanded five-member board approved the experiment unanimously.
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