Stow Road, near its intersection with Codman Hill Road, will soon receive a safety upgrade and a new look when the Department of Public Works installs chevrons to warn of the sharp curve in the road as well as two new signs, a 25-mph speed limit sign and a “curve ahead” warning. The chevrons are similar to those placed at Doe’s corner on Ayer Road. Two chevrons are for traffic heading into town and three chevrons are for travelers leaving town.
At its November 21 meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted three to one to authorize the work now to provide drivers with a visual cue, and said that they will address a permanent plan for the intersection in the spring. They expect the spring changes to improve sight lines and reduce the number of “near misses” at the intersection, they said.
Selectman Robert Eubank voted against the motion, citing the obtrusiveness of the solution, given the character of the road. Selectwoman Lucy Wallace also expressed concern that Stow Road is a scenic route and asked if something else would be less visually offensive. Selectman Scott Kimball was absent.
At the selectmen’s November 7 meeting, Patricia MacRoberts, who has lived on the corner of Stow and Codman Hill roads for 12 years, objected strenuously to a plan put forth by Police Chief Edward Denmark and DPW Director Richard Nota, which called for removing trees to improve sight lines. She planted the trees in 2000, she said.
MacRoberts said that the average speed of traffic coming down Stow Road from town is about 40 mph and that there is only one speed limit sign on that section of Stow Road. She brought photos to show that the yellow line at the intersection is not centered.
As part of the solution, MacRoberts proposed centering and continuing the yellow line on Stow Road and adding a stop sign. She told the selectmen that she is aware of nighttime and single-car accidents at the intersection; Chief Denmark said that there were no reports of multi-vehicle accidents there in the past year.
