WESTBROOK, Maine — A public hearing in Westbrook on Wednesday focused on a problem intersection. Residents say the intersection where Route 302, Hardy Road, and Duck Pond Road meet is dangerous because there are lots of cars that are driving too fast.
“This is a dangerous intersection,” said resident Phil Spiller Jr.
Dozens packed the meeting with the Maine Department of Transportation with ideas on how to fix the problem. DOT officials say putting a roundabout would force drivers to slow down.
“It’s a lower speed type of roundabout and circle area where traffic is moving at a slower rate and the incident rates when we do have them are non-fatal so it does improve our signals,” John Rodrigue, DOT project manager, said.
Rotaries are bigger, which allow people to drive faster, weave in and out of lanes and cause more accidents than the much smaller roundabouts. But some are worried about how big rigs would move through town.
“[I’m] against the possibility of a propane truck rolling over and exploding and taking out a neighborhood of loved ones,” said city councilor Paul Emery.
Others worry any big changes will ruin the strip of historic property.
“This is one of the oldest granges in the country, as we know the woman suffrage movement was important, because of the granges,” Spiller said.
The DOT says a traffic light would also cause more problems. There will be a more formal meeting with options and designs later in the year. Until then, they are making smaller adjustments to the intersection.