NHDOT Planning Safety Improvements Along Route 101 Intersection

A public meeting to discuss plans for a corridor-wide project to improve safety on Elm Street and Route 101 from Wilton Road to Phelan Road drew a substantial crowd.

Milford residents and local officials packed a Town Hall meeting room Monday evening to share their suggestions for improving driving conditions on Elm Street, which representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) said they will consider as they move forward with an improvements study of the road.

“We have not yet begun design work on the project. We think it’s important before digging into the engineer work to understand the problems and take public input into consideration,” DOT Chief of Preliminary Design Michael Dugas told the crowd.

The project could cost up to $3 million, but DOT Project Manager Ron Grandmaison said he hopes to see lower-cost improvements completed so the state may shift funds further down the corridor to other problem areas.

The DOT identified the stretch of Elm Street to be improved as an important part of a larger project to improve traffic safety on Route 101.

According to a DOT study, 23,000 vehicles travel eastbound and westbound on Elm Street and Route 101 from Wilton Road to Phelan Road each day.

“We know of dozens of crashes in this area in the last 10 years, most resulting when people are turning into or out of driveways,” Dugas said, adding that improving this particular stretch of Route 101 will be beneficial not only to residents of Milford, but also to residents of neighboring communities who utilize the road daily.

Grandmaison suggested constructing a center turn lane as a possible solution to the problem drivers have turning out of residential and commercial driveways onto Route 101.

With the road being 40 ft. wide, Dugas said it may only take 4 ft. of widening to expand Elm Street into a three-lane road with a center turn lane.

Chris Torres, who owns Absolute Self Storage at 720 Elm Street, expressed concern expanding Elm Street would require the state to take property.

While there are no specific plans as of yet for the proposed road improvements, Dugas said “we hope to complete construction without taking any property from businesses.”

Gary Balcom, owner of Balcom Brothers Rentals at 776 Elm Street, suggested shrinking the shoulder on the side of the road that borders the river.

Balcom said he believes a center turn lane could improve the safety of the road, and that improving safety for patrons visiting his business is “good all around.”

In addition to adding a center turn lane, members of the public suggested constructing several roundabouts and restricting traffic on Jones Road to one direction.

Milford Board of Selectmen Chairman Gary Daniels said he would like to see guard rails installed along the river on Elm Street, in addition to construction of a center turn lane.

Daniels added he doesn’t believe that section of Route 101 needs more traffic lights installed, and advised against creating common driveways as many common driveways require the installation of traffic lights.

Grandmaison and Dugas said all public input will be taken into consideration as they move forward with completing an improvements study and engineer work.

Dugas said he hopes to meet again with the town in the springtime to share options for improving the road and to get more feedback.

Grandmaison said their goal is to begin construction in 2016.