Photo: Kendall Buhl for WBZ NewsRadio
SALISBURY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Nothing he can remember will have as much impact on Salisbury traffic as the removal of two travel lanes on the Route 1 bridge. But Chairman of the Select Board Chuck Takesian says the state never gave the town a heads up.
"Nothing. I never heard of it until people started calling me," Takesian told WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl.
The drawbridge has been taken down to one lane in each direction to create a buffer zone for the new bike lanes painted on the span, and officials in both Salisbury and Newburyport say the changes will undoubtedly add to the already massive backups that occur in the summer when the bridge goes up twice an hour.
Selectman Michael Colburn supports the bike paths, but not like this.
"I think this is the shortest, cheapest way the state could get something achieved," he said. "They can do a better job than this."
Officials are working with State Senator Bruce Tarr, in hopes of pushing MassDOT to rethink the new configuration as soon as possible.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," said Selectman Colburn.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports:
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