Drivers, the wait is over, construction at Kelly’s Corner is about to end! Scheduled for the winter, all construction should be finished except for some final touches in the spring. What work remains? Well, an interview with John Mangiaratti, our town manager, reveals these answers.
Kelly’s Corner has been worked on for the past three years, causing everyone to wonder, “What is happening here?” People have been right to question, as the project has been delayed for an entire year by utility poles! By this winter, the town will have laid down street islands on every road entering the intersection. These street islands will be oval-shaped sections separating the road, filled with plants to improve Acton’s greenery.
Why reduce the road size at such a busy intersection? Well, take a look at Prospect Street, where rapid construction occurred this summer. Prospect Street has become a safer place, but the main goal of calming traffic and slowing driving has been achieved. Because the road is so narrow, people will have to decrease their driving speed, which the town hopes will create a safer environment. In addition, it redirects traffic flow to make navigating more efficient.
The main construction you’ve probably been seeing is the creation of the sidewalks along Massachusetts Avenue. Future plans entail bike lanes, a pocket park behind the Verizon building, and ornamental light fixtures for pedestrians. Along with adding more trees and plant life, this part of the construction is bound to make Acton safer for students and upgrade its aesthetic.
After ten years of planning with the state and working on this project, Kelly’s Corner is about to be revitalized, so the town and state turn their attention to a new issue, Piper Rd., intersecting Route 2 and across the highway from Conant School. The state has had its 25% hearing (which is a meeting with the state to check in on progress and potential issues), so we are still a long way out from work being started, but the town will try to improve the safety of cars making left turns. A quicker project will be creating a sidewalk and a beacon where the path from ABRHS leads to the Santa Fe plaza to make it safer for students crossing the street, likely done before this winter.
“Now it’s just about finishing the details,” says John Mangiaratti. Downtown Acton has been under construction for quite some time now, but it’s about to end! Get ready for a completely new look with many more plants and trees, wider sidewalks and biking lanes. But most importantly, get ready for a much safer place to drive!