DALTON, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has decided to not move forward with a roundabout at South and Main streets. Instead, the intersection will be on the list to be updated with better signaling as part of a countywide project.

 

"I just want to say just once, thanks to the community for coming out and sharing your opinions, but also a very big thank you to MassDOT for listening to the community and reassessing that project and making that determination," said Select Board Chair Joseph Diver at Monday's board meeting. 

 

A public hearing was held on Sept. 14, 2021, to discuss the possibility of having a roundabout at the intersection, which is in the top 5 percent of most dangerous stretches under the jurisdiction of District 1. 

 

At the time there were two solutions to consider, one being improving signal equipment, signage, and road alignment at both the intersections. The other, to make those same adjustments at the junction with West Housatonic and create a roundabout with South Street. The public comments were mixed but a majority preferred the option without the roundabout.  

 

South Street resident Joseph Albano argued during the public hearingthat a radical change of a roundabout is not worth the time and money and there are other ways, like turn lanes, to improve the safety of the intersection. 

 

Many of the residents against the idea of a roundabout expressed their concern about how the extensive work needed to put a roundabout in would disturb the traffic pattern and how the construction would back up traffic from the stoplight to the east at the junction of Main Street and West Housatonic, creating a line of traffic that would clog up the roundabout.

 

Although a majority disagreed with the roundabout some residents at the time argued that having a roundabout is a solution to the problem. Resident Tom King said a number of people nowadays who are not interested in abiding by the road laws are increasing so roads should be designed in a way to take account that people are sharing the roads with reckless drivers. 

 

Richard Lacatell disagreed with this sentiment saying those who do not follow road laws will cause problems anywhere and accidents will still occur on a roundabout with reckless drivers. 

 

MassDOT took the publics comments into account and has decided to not move forward with the roundabout. The board is working on completing the contracts for the updated intersection and better signals and once that is complete they will have a better idea as to when the work will begin. 

 

Board member John Boyle asked if in addition to the signalization if there are plans to do any curb adjustments to avoid traffic buildup. The town can expect a public hearing on the design of the intersection in the future.