Norwood Hospital Outlines Traffic Solutions for Linden Street-July 11, 1977

Norwood Hospital Expansion and Linden Street Traffic

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On July 11, 1977, Norwood Hospital administration addressed growing concerns among Linden Street residents regarding how future hospital expansion might disrupt local traffic patterns. With the hospital moving forward with its acquisition of Winter Street—which previously provided a thoroughfare between the hospital and the town civic center—residents had expressed anxiety regarding their ability to enter and exit their one-way street. Hospital Administrator David P. Buchmueller sought to alleviate these concerns, stating that there are absolutely no plans to close Linden Street. Instead, current expansion proposals include converting Linden Street into a two-way traffic flow that would extend onto the rear section of Winter Street and eventually connect to Broadway.

The hospital’s comprehensive plan also focuses on improving neighborhood congestion by eliminating on-street parking on both Linden and Winter streets. To replace these spaces, the hospital intends to develop off-street parking, potentially utilizing a portion of the Beaver Oil Company site located on East Hoyle Street, which had been cleared following two suspicious fires earlier in the year. Mr. Buchmueller confirmed he has initiated preliminary discussions with the property owners, the Viano family, regarding the potential purchase of a portion of their land. While he emphasized that these negotiations remain in the early stages, he reassured residents that the hospital has roughly two years before the expansion is fully realized, providing ample time to “iron out the traffic situation” in collaboration with town officials.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger