For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Littleton and Ayer Police Work with Town Officials to Improve Troubled Intersection

Redesign Calls for MassDOT to Install Traffic Signals, Create Lane Designations

LITTLETON — Chief Matthew King and Ayer Chief William Murray announce that the Littleton and Ayer Police Departments are working together to assist both communities in a project to correct a troubled intersection.

The intersection of Ayer Road at Willow Road and Bruce Street has seen a steady increase in crashes and traffic over the last five years. It sits on the Littleton/Ayer town line and is under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction. The Littleton and Ayer Boards of Selectmen are leading the effort to redesign the area, with assistance and support from the police departments.

“This current intersection is dangerous and has been an area of concern for some time now,” Chief King said. “We are hoping to move forward with a plan that will make traveling these roads safer for drivers, homeowners, businesses and pedestrians.”

On Jan. 5, the Littleton and Ayer Boards of Selectmen, at a joint public meeting, unanimously voted to request that MassDOT provide signalization and improvements to the intersection. They also asked for assistance from state legislators to schedule a meeting with MassDOT to discuss the matter, which they were able to secure for later this month.

On average, 14,500 vehicles travel on Ayer Road per day, with 4,400 on Willow Road sees and 560 on Bruce Street. Additionally, there is poor access control within the intersection and a skewed angle of Willow Road and Bruce Street to Ayer Road (Route 2A).

To rectify the situation, officials outlined a plan to redo the intersection, in turn reducing the accident rate, creating better traffic flow during peak hours and decreasing the impact on businesses and residents.

The proposal includes:

• Installing traffic signals 
• Providing separate left turn lanes for each Ayer Road approach
• Creating a dedicated left turn lane and a shared through and right lane on Willow Road
• Adding a single shared lane on Bruce Street

“We feel this proposal offers the best possible solution for the problems associated with the intersection,” Chief Murray said. “By adding traffic lights and creating separate turn lanes, we’ll provide order to this area and seriously impact the amount of accidents that occur.”

###