Norwood Tests New Traffic Pattern at Subway Hill Intersection in South Norwood-October 29, 1980

Temporary Island Installed to Improve Safety at Washington and Chapel Streets

Seeking to enhance motorist safety, the Town of Norwood will launch a temporary traffic experiment next week at the busy intersection on Washington Street at the top of Subway Hill leading into South Norwood. Approved on a trial basis by the Board of Selectmen upon the recommendation of the South Norwood study committee, the new layout utilizes sandbags, barrels, and signage to create a small physical island in the middle of the roadway.

Under the trial pattern:

• Southbound traffic on Washington Street must bear right to proceed onto Chapel Street or bear left to continue toward South Norwood.
• Motorists entering Washington Street from Chapel Street must navigate around the newly formed traffic island after coming to a full stop at the intersection.

Town Manager John J. Carroll stressed the experimental nature of the project during the board meeting, assuring officials: “If it looks like it isn’t working out, we can change it or drop it.”

Selectmen Address Police Contract, Walpole Street Signals, and Door-to-Door Solicitations

In addition to the Subway Hill traffic trial, the board acted on several key municipal items during the session:

• Special Town Meeting Warrant: Voted to add an 18th article to the upcoming November 17 special town meeting warrant to allocate funding for an anticipated contract settlement with the police union.
• Traffic Signals: Approved construction plans and upgrades for the Walpole Street and Walnut Avenue intersection, estimated at a cost of $49,000.
• Board Appointments: Appointed Rosemary Sullivan of 23 Dorset St. to the youth commission.
• Drainage Study: Reviewed a preliminary report on the Meadowbrook drain study, featuring a recommendation from Manager Carroll for $3 million in infrastructure work.
• Solicitation Bylaw: Designated Selectman Mary J. Fox to work alongside Carroll in drafting a new municipal bylaw regulating door-to-door commercial solicitations in town.

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