Traffic Signal Planned For Edgell Road & Central Street Intersection

By Luke Canavan

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FRAMINGHAM – A traffic signal is coming to the intersection of Edgell Road and Central Street.

The hope is that the installation of the new signal will fix many of the current problems with the intersection, such as difficult left turns, long traffic queues, and poor sight distance around the bend.

The Framingham Traffic Commission has partnered with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) to work on the installation of the new traffic signal.

“Once the signal is installed, and the associated geometric improvements are constructed, the intersection should enhance vehicular traffic flow and provide much needed safety and accessibility improvements for all users (vehicle/pedestrian/bicyclist),” said Framingham Department of Public Works Senior Communications Project Manager Allyssa Jewell, to SOURCE.

Tracie Lenhardt will be the project manager for the duration of the job, assisted by Erin Thompson, who leads traffic on the project. Josh Cone-Roddy, is the Highway Designer. Cone-Roddy gave a presentation on the project to the Traffic Commission on February 23

“The Traffic Commission voted to support this project at their February 23, 2021 meeting. In the next few weeks, this project will be presented to the City Council for their approval,” wrote Jewell to SOURCE.

“These votes are to revise the City’s traffic regulations to reflect the proposed traffic signal’s installation. Federal and State approvals are also necessary, as most construction funding will come through the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP),” explain Jewell, the DPW’s spokesperson.

The team has finished the 75% design for the project and it is currently under review by both the City and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), said Jewell.

A rotary or roundabout was considered for the intersection, but a traffic signal was settled on.

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“Once all comments have been reviewed, the City’s design consultant will coordinate with MassDOT to address any comments,” Jewell told SOURCE. “Once comments are resolved, the design will proceed to the 100% design stage of the project.”

“The scheduled submission date for the 100% design is August 2021,” explained Jewell. “Another round of comments will follow, and then the project will proceed to the PS&E (Plans, Specifications, and Estimate) phase.”

The project still requires funding on the final design.

“DPW will be asking for an FY22 Capital appropriation of $366,000, which will cover the final design costs,” wrote Jewell.

The City Council will be asked to approve that funding in spring 2021.

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Despite the 100% design being slated for submission within the next six months, the timeline of the project will still span throughout the next few years.

“After final approval, the project will be advertised for bidding. Currently, the scheduled bid advertisement date is October 2022, with an opening date of December 2022,” explained Jewell.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023, and completion should be sometime in 2024,” said Jewell to SOURCE.

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Luke Canavan is a spring 2021 SOURCE intern. He is currently a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studies Communication and English. He is passionate about film, television, writing, and literature, and upon graduation, he hopes to work in the entertainment industry full-time, where he can pursue his love for storytelling.