By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Jeffrey W. Howland, P.E., Shrewsbury Town Engineer, appeared before the Board of Selectmen Oct. 13 to brief the board on the findings regarding citizen proposals to install or change traffic signage. However, the selectmen got a rude surprise during the briefing.
Howland informed the board that a sinkhole, of approximately 12 square feet and about three feet deep, had opened at the Toblin Street Bridge just east of Walnut Street. He informed the board that this was caused by the bridge’s spans separating, cracking, and twisting away from one another. He noted that in response the bridge sidewalks had been closed. In such a situation, remedial action is passed to the town and state highway departments and the bridge may have to be closed for safety reasons, creating two dead-end streets at the bridge and in fact the bridge may collapse before it can be repaired or replaced.
Understandably, this was not welcome news to the board or to Town Manager Daniel Morgado, who had only recently reviewed town finances in preparation for the fall town meeting. Morgado noted that he will have to draft a response to this news and to do so will need written input from the Engineering Department. He also mentioned that the company who built the bridge may be on the hook for the damages and said that the cost to repair/replace (long- or short-term) could be large for the town, in addition to the business and travel costs of having the bridge closed.
Regarding the matters for which Howland had been asked to speak, he reviewed specific proposals submitted to change road signage. Regarding speed limit signs on several locations between Route 20 and Route 9, he referred to four recent traffic reports done in conjunction with the highway, police, and engineering departments. The study found that in these areas, 85 percent of traffic traveled at just under 40 mph while the posted speed limit was 30 mph. Selectman Maurice DePalo asked if this is really an enforcement issue, to which Howland replied “yes.” Selectman John Lebeaux then asked if the problem could be solved by placing “Thickly Settled – Speed Limit 30 mph” signs. The answer was again “yes” as this is permissible when houses are close together on neighboring lots.
Regarding residents’ demand for a Truck Exclusion and complaints of too much truck traffic on Oak Street, Howland replied that all the pertinent town departments had evaluated the street for a seven day period and determined that while 13,000+ vehicles used the road in that time, 85 percent were passenger cars and only 3 percent were trucks. Other trucks included those from UPS, local delivery, and a bakery. With no recent accident history, Howland doubted if the board still wanted a truck exclusion on Oak Street.
Another citizen request for stop signs at Roman Drive and Hialiah was rejected. However, the board did vote unanimously to put a stop sign at Hill Street at Prospect Street.