MEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Overnight construction begins on Monday for the Salem Street rotary in Medford, Mass.
Crews will be out weekly from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, though no specific completion date was given. Temporary overnight lanes and ramp closures will be in effect while work continues, but there will be detours in place.
The work includes adding more curves for the I-93 on and off ramps to reduce speeds, replacing the sidewalk with a shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians, and installing Rapid Flashing Beacons at crosswalks and more high-visibility signage. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), it is part of the $42.6-million Interstate Pavement Preservation Project on I-93.
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WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas asked community members about the changes, but most of the focus went towards the shared-use path. Irvin said he does not want to see more bikers coming into the rotary.
“I’m not opposed to slowing down the speeding that goes [on] there and the people that are coming off the ramps because they don’t stop when they’re in the rotary,” said Irvin. “I’m opposed to bike lanes. There’s just too many of them.”
Others, like Bruce from Melrose, said the more bike lanes, the merrier.
“This is a biking community around here, so I think it’s important to think of bikers just as much as you think of people on the road,” said Bruce.
Regardless of where people stood on the potential for more bikers at the rotary, most said they want to see the rotary become safer for all who use it.
“Driving around here has been getting out of hand recently, so I think getting drivers [to slow] down would be pretty beneficial,” one man said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.