Two New Roundabouts In Worcester May Tame Dodgy Intersection

WORCESTER, MA — They did it to Kelley Square, and now they might do it to another dicey Worcester intersection.

MassDOT on Wednesday will hold a public meeting about a potentially major change to the intersection of Chandler (Route 122) and May streets in front of the Worcester State University campus. The state wants to replace the current triangular layout with two new roundabouts, and a lot of other upgrades.

The roundabouts will "increase sight distance for vehicles, reduce crossing times for pedestrians and provide a bike lane for cyclists. Improvements to the sidewalks and curbing will provide on street parking for the students of Worcester State University and the parents of children at local schools," the MassDOT project description says.

"Flashing beacons will be used at critical crossing locations to increase safety of students and children. Islands will be installed in the roadway to reduce lane width and provide a landscape area. Street lighting will be improved to provide proper lighting to areas with crosswalks."

The $5.4 million project would be funded with federal transportation money, and work could start as soon as spring 2025, according to MassDOT.

The public meeting on the project begins Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. You can sign up to attend the online meeting on the MassDOT website.