Templeton OKs one-way pattern around new school

Templeton OKs one-way pattern around new school
Traffic to go south on Wellington Road; north on South

+ click to enlarge News staff photos by Christine Smith Traffic will be one-way on South Road in front of Templeton Center Elementary School, flowing in a northerly direction, from Hubbardston to Templeton. + click to enlarge Wellington Road on the left as it currently meets with South Street. A triangle island will create traffic flow one way in a southerly direction only from Wellington and around the curved radius at the corner to proceed one way going north on South Road.  A “bump out” is also planned for this spot on the west side of Wellington to narrow the road.  Sidewalks will be installed on both sides of the elementary school building property on South and Wellington roads. Christine Smith TEMPLETON — Residents on the roads surrounding Tem­pleton Center Elementary School will get a taste of the traffic flow before road reconstruction and resurfacing is even ready to begin. The Board of Selectmen ap­proved on Monday a definitive plan that will alter intersections at Dudley and Wellington roads, and again at Wellington and South roads, and change the traffic flow to a one-way pattern on the stretches surrounding the school. Road signs indicating only a southerly direction on Welling­ton Road and a northerly direction on South Road will be installed soon, with these indicators to be later included among the permanent markings on these roadways. Site work will also permanently widen the radius at the corner from Dudley onto Wellington to facilitate a smooth entry of both cars and larger vehicles and trucks. For about three months, however, temporary road markers and barrels will define additional areas that will see much more extensive alterations. A stronger police presence will be on hand to help ease residents into the new traffic patterns. In addition, Police Chief Michael Bennett noted that the changes will be outlined on the town’s Web page and the Police Department’s social media sites. Officials hope to not only get travelers used to the new pattern, but also tweak the design even further. Once this three-month preliminary phase has ended, they expect actual road redesign to begin. The plans were outlined with a slide presentation for selectmen and the large number of residents in attendance by Peter Glick from Symmes Maini & McKee Associates based in Cambridge and Rhode Island. Bennett was also on hand to speak in support. Glick said the width of the pavement on both Wellington and South will stay at 24 feet. However, the one-way travel pattern will allow for an 11-foot-wide vehicle lane down the center, 5-foot-wide bike lanes on the west side of Wellington and east side of South, and 8-foot-wide breakdown or emergency access lanes on the opposite sides. All lanes will be painted to delineate the new traffic flow. A large reconfiguration is planned for the corner where Wellington meets with South Road and currently widens drastically. Glick said a triangular island will be installed with a raised curb to force traffic from Wellington to separate either into a curved way leading to a stop and left-only turn onto South Road opposite Grand View Terrace, or merge straight going the opposite direction onto South Road where traffic resumes a two-way pattern. A rumble strip will also be installed as an overlap to allow larger vehicles to safely traverse the curve line if they turn onto South. Those entering South Road from Grand View Terrace will have to stop at that corner, but they will still be able to make either a left or a right turn onto South. Vehicles coming from farther south on South Road will be forced to bear to the right of the island, past Grand View Terrace and up to Dudley. A “bump out” area to later be planted with grass will create a tight configuration where Wellington meets South, to prohibit drivers from being able to steer to the left of the island. Glick stressed that none of the improvements in the plan will result in taking of land or moving the present curb line onto private properties. After road resurfacing, sidewalks will be installed on both sides of the elementary school building property on South and Wellington roads, while those elsewhere will remain as they are. There will also be solar-powered “school zone” speed-limit signs with flashing lights that will be aimed toward approaching traffic on each side of the school. There will eventually be a drop-off area directly in front of the elementary school that is separate from the paved edges of all road travel lanes. The parking on South Road at the Templeton Country Store and the adjoining salon will remain but will be restriped for a 60-degree slant. There will be no additional parking along either Wellington or South roads other than what would already be provided at the elementary school and storefronts. Glick noted that the 8-foot-wide breakdown lane could be used for additional parking without interrupting the traffic flow should there be large events at the school. The cost of the road redesign is being paid by borrowed funds, as part of the Town Meeting-approved expenditure of the $47 million elementary school building project. The specifications for the overall project is currently being prepared, said project manager Tim Alix of Colliers International, and should be ready to go out to bid later this year. All needed supplies and material that had been in the elementary school have been moved out of the building and are in place to service the eight temporary elementary classrooms at Narragansett Regional High School. All hazardous material in the current elementary school building will be removed and then the structure will be demolished sometime this winter. The old Center School clock and dedication plaques were moved for safety to the Narragansett Historical Society building, and will be put back into place when construction on the new building is finished. Outgoing interim Super­intendent Stephen Hemman said to hope for a sooner move back into the new school, but to expect as much as a three-year timeframe due to possible weather or other unforeseen situations.