The proposed location for a new traffic signal on Springfield Road. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD- An informational session was held at city hall Thursday evening to discuss proposed additions of traffic lights and a possible change to the on-ramp of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westfield.
The city received a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to improve the flow of traffic on Springfield Road. The current plan is to install a new traffic signal approximately halfway between the existing signals at Union Street and Walmart.
“What is being proposed is a widening of the road to provide a center turning lane,” said Mark Cressotti, city engineer, “a traffic signal is being proposed at the western end of the Shortstop Bar and Grill.”
Cressotti notes that despite the traffic signals at Walmart and Union Street, it is still difficult to find a break in traffic to leave properties near Shortstop Bar and Grill and Kelly’s Home and Garden. He believes an additional signal would make it easier for drivers to exit those parking lots.
The new traffic signal would be a ‘smart light’ that would communicate with the other existing lights to maximize the efficiency of traffic flow in the area. The only currently existing light in that area to not be ‘smart’ is the signal at the intersection of East Mountain Road and Springfield Road.
Cressotti said that their ability to widen the road is constrained by the railroad on the north side of Springfield Street.
Although the parking lot of Kelly’s Home and Garden will not have its own traffic signal, a cut-through will be added to the Shortstop Bar and Grill parking lot allowing drivers to use the signal to exit Kelly’s.
Cressotti gave a projected timeline that would see construction begin next Spring. Construction itself could take one and a half construction seasons.
The added traffic signal will include a set of crosswalks with signs similar to those seen in Westfield’s downtown area.
Paul Furgal, senior project manager at McMahon Associates, shows a traffic model that reflects the proposed traffic signals on Union Street. (Photo by Peter Currier)
Another set of traffic signals was proposed for Union Street at the intersection with Paper Mill Road and Springdale Road. Paul Furgal, senior project manager of McMahon Associates, gave a presentation outlining the plan and explaining the data he gathered.
He detailed the high traffic volume on Union Street, Paper Mill Road, and Springdale Road.
“During the morning peak hour on Springdale Road, we calculated about 365 feet of cars, which is about 14 cars backed up,” says Furgal, “in the afternoon we had about 514 feet of cars, which is about 20 cars.”
Furgal estimates that the morning traffic volume delays a commute by two and a half minutes. The afternoon backup delays the commute by five minutes.
The proposed plan to improve traffic flow and driver safety for the intersection would place traffic signals for both directions on Union Street as well as signals on Paper Mill Road and Springdale Road. A yield sign may be placed for cars entering Springdale Road from the east end of Union Street. The lot of Brookside Auto Parts will be modified to have its own traffic signal as well. The signals will be smart and communicate with nearby traffic lights.
Although the traffic signal would cut down on driving time for those leaving Springdale Road, it may slightly slow down traffic for drivers on Union Street, according to Furgal.
“You’re going to stop on Union Street now,” says Cressotti, “you might get a green light, but you also might get a red light.”
Cressotti states that if a driver should hit a red light on Union Street, they should make it through on the next green light. According to Furgal, there is still discussion to be had with the traffic commission about allowing drivers to take a right turn on a red light. The design of the intersection is expected to be finished within a month.
The final topic for the informational session was a proposal to improve the exit 3 interchange for both entering and exiting interstate 90.
“In the morning, the traffic backs up all the way down the hill to the Sunoco station,” noted Cressotti, “what is worse is trying to get off in the evening.”
There have been proposals in the past to utilize Westfield Industrial Park Road for a slip ramp to enter the turnpike. Unlike the traffic light proposals, the plan to fix the heavy traffic for the highway is only conceptual, according to Cressotti. His argument in favor of the change to the highway is that having a dangerous and congested commute may discourage people from moving or spending time in the city.
