Safe Routes to School and Traffic Calming Measures Project for Willson Street Beginning Soon

The City of Salem recently was awarded a MASSDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Grant for Willson Street. Work is scheduled to begin very soon, and must be completed by the beginning of October. The target completion date is mid-September.

The grant will allow the city to install two bike lanes, on either side of Willson Street from Highland Avenue to Laurent Road, which will narrow the road. This will result in slowing down traffic in the area as well as providing a safe space for students to bike to school.

The neighbors living on and around Willson Street have often complained about the speed of traffic, especially as it approaches the curve in the road near the golf course entrance as well as another curve and incline approaching Laurent Road. The street also opens up at the Laurent Road intersection, which adds to car speed.

There have been several accidents in this section of Willson Street, so traffic calming, especially on a street which houses the Horace Mann Laboratory School and Salem High School, is important. By creating protected bike lanes on either side, the road will visually narrow, which will slow traffic.

In addition, School Zone signs and better signage for crosswalks are included.

You can view the design plans for the project below. The detailed maps are on pages 4-7.