Dedham Square Improvement Project

 

A Design Public Hearing will be held by the Town of Dedham to discuss the proposed Dedham Square Improvement Project in Dedham, Massachusetts.

 

WHERE:         Lower Conference Room

                      26 Bryant Street

                      Dedham, MA 02026

 

WHEN:           February 2, 2010 at 7:00 PM

 

PURPOSE:     The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Dedham Square Improvement Project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

 

PROPOSAL: The proposed project includes modernizing the traffic signal at High Street and Washington Street and installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of High Street and Eastern Avenue. Signals will be coordinated and will include much needed pedestrian phasing. Other improvements include curb modifications within the limits of the existing right of way to better channelize and align intersection approaches. These modifications also include curb extension to reduce pedestrian crossing distance and enhance pedestrian visibility. In addition to roadway and sidewalk improvements, streetscape features are also proposed including special sidewalk and crosswalk surfaces, tree plantings, bike racks, benches, and period lighting.

 

The Dedham Square Improvement Project consists of comprehensive traffic, roadway, pedestrian and streetscape improvements within the Town’s downtown central business district. In general, the Square is formed by the intersection of a number of major streets including Washington Street, High Street, and Eastern Avenue, as well as Bryant Street and Harris Street.  

 

Traffic control within the Square is limited to a single outdated traffic signal. Crosswalks that are present have awkward and excessively long alignments. Congestion in the Square is a typical daily occurrence.  

 

The Town is seeking to revitalize the Square, improve traffic operations and safety, while creating a much more walk-able pedestrian scale environment. Overall the Plan is expected have a construction cost of about $5 million.  

 

Anyone with questions about the project or the hearing is encouraged to contact the Director of Engineering, David Field, P.E., at (781) 751-9350 or at dfield@dedham-ma.gov.