Ayer Road traffic has been a topic of conversation and a source of consternation for years.
Over the past decade, selectmen-appointed committees have conducted traffic safety studies, generating dust-gathering paperwork but no action.
Several years ago, the town paid $45,000 for a professional traffic study that focused on the so-called Ayer Road corridor—from Route 2 to the Ayer traffic circle. The study was done in part to determine whether and where it was feasible to promote more business activity in the town’s only commercially zoned sector, Board of Selectmen Chairman Ron Ricci said. The study focused on traffic impact, identified trouble spots, and made recommendations that included steps to mitigate traffic, Ricci said.
Now, the selectmen are spotlighting the issue again, targeting the riskiest areas first.
The areas of Ayer Road of greatest concern include the intersections at Poor Farm Road and at Gebo Lane and the turnoff to the post office, all of which have been the scenes of accidents over the years, from minor fender benders to major collisions.
Busy thoroughfare in a quiet town
According to DPW Director Rich Nota, Ayer Road, or Route 110-111, becomes a state highway at two spots as it stretches through town: at the four-way intersection in the town center, where it segues to Massachusetts Avenue, and at the Route 2 overpass. Otherwise, the road is the town’s responsibility, he said, from the town center to the Ayer town line.
Amid a lacework of tree-lined, rural roads featuring gracious homes, orchards, small farms, and scenic vistas, Ayer Road is a busy thruway for vehicles from bicycles to motorcycles to 18-wheelers rumbling to and from Route 2 and the businesses in Devens.
New traffic study
In their latest quest to address Ayer Road traffic problems, Ricci, Selectman Stu Slkar, Planning Board Chairwoman Kara Minar, Town Planner Bill Scanlan and Nota recently met with Department of Transportation representative Arthur Frost.
Having determined that doing something is better than taking no action at all, the selectmen made completion of an Ayer Road traffic study one of their annual goals this year and have hired a consultant to do it, voting four to one to do so at their Oct. 6 meeting.
Before the vote, Sklar sketched out the gist of the DOT meeting he and Ricci attended.
Whether it’s a traffic light, a roundabout, or some other solution, the selectmen have decided it’s time to take action on Ayer Road traffic issues, he said. Which, in part, was what the recent meeting with Frost was about.
But the focus of that discussion, apparently, was on bridges—in this case, the bridges over Bowers Brook on Lancaster County and Ayer roads. “The takeaway” was that the state has a bridge inventory, but the Lancaster County Road bridge isn’t on it, Sklar said. The good news is that the Lancaster County Road bridge was “well built,” Sklar continued, sharing a photo showing that the undercarriage looks sound. “The scary part is” that the bridge isn’t on anyone’s watch list, he said. The Ayer Road bridge, on the other hand, is on the radar but not on the state’s repair list, even though it is 90 years old and “in poor condition,” Sklar said.
The bottom line for the entire area of concern, from the state point of view, is that as long as the town foots the bill and keeps DOT apprised of its plans, it can do pretty much whatever it wants to calm or correct Ayer Road traffic problems, Sklar said.
In a later conversation, Ricci said that slowing traffic might help solve problems in areas such as the intersection at Poor Farm and Ayer roads, as well as the turn-in from Ayer Road to the post office. Oncoming vehicles “can work up a pretty good head of steam” along that stretch, Ricci said. Study results would “quantify” what people think, he said, plugging in statistics such as the number of accidents, current traffic counts, and other data.
Who pays?
With a consultant under contract—Lloyd Bristol of Bristol Traffic and Transportation Consulting LLC, of North Brookfield—the study should wrap up by next month or early December, Ricci said, after which the selectmen will hold public forums before determining what to do next.
“Obviously, it will cost money,” Ricci said of whatever project they come up with, if any. But it isn’t likely a plan could be finalized in time for this round of budget building, he added.
The study will be paid for with Chapter 90 state highway funds.
