Neighbors experiencing issues should contact Town Administrator

By Theresa Knapp

At the meeting of the Holliston Select Board on Sept. 27, Holliston Town Administrator Travis Ahern reported there is a “broad schedule” on the town website for the Department of Transportation project on Route 16/126. 

Ahern said the sidewalk work had begun and was affecting traffic in the area. He said, “We do not control the schedule, it is not our project, it is a state-owned roadway, and it is DOT’s project.” The sidewalk work was taking place during the day and “the majority of work outside that section of the project is to be done at night which will obviously not impact commuting.” 

Any neighbors experiencing any issues with the project, should contact the Town Administrator’s office. 

Ahern said the next phase of work relates to “castings and looping of traffic areas and then, beyond that, they have a tentative start date, of paving as of Oct 16, [which] additionally will be done during the night” (after 7 p.m.).

According to the website, after the paving is completed, the following crosswalks will be painted: 

• Highland Street crosswalk; Washington Street crosswalk at Highland Street 

• Oak Street/Summer Street (Rt. 126) through island at Summer Street

• East of Cross Street area (based on sight distance)

• Marked Tree Road area

 

Ahern noted that “Unfortunately, they do think that the signalization of those crosswalks may have to wait an additional period of time because they are going to use a different funding source for it but I don’t have a final timeline on that.” 

Board member Tina Hein asked that the town continue to communicate to the state that, “Where the crosswalks and sidewalks are tied to a town priority of Complete Streets…I would just ask that we continue to communicate out that we are focused on seeing our Complete Streets projects advanced through this work with DOT.” 

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