Polaroid Explores Route 1A Access Road to Facilitate Major Norwood Plant Expansion-November 3, 1981

Plant Officials Seek Direct Highway Connection to Alleviate Neighborhood Traffic Concerns

In response to widespread neighborhood protests regarding proposed traffic connections on Nahatan Street and Clapboardtree Street, executives from the Polaroid Corp. announced they are actively collaborating with state transportation authorities to study a new, dedicated access road linking their 230-acre Norwood facility directly to Route 1A (Upland Road).

Plant engineer John Shea outlined the proposal during a Norwood Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting hosted on company grounds, noting that a direct Route 1A artery would resolve employee commuting bottlenecks while eliminating the need for the controversial Nahatan Street connection. Although a Upland Road connection would incur twice the financial cost of the Nahatan Street alternative, Shea emphasized that Polaroid is committed to absorbing the expense to maintain community harmony.

Division Vice President George Trumbour reaffirmed the company’s “good neighbor” policy, announcing that Polaroid has officially shelved its Nahatan Street access proposal for at least a year. When asked if the corporation intended to enforce existing legal rights of way, Trumbour stated: “We are more interested in being good neighbors than standing on our legal ground at this time.”

Soaring Production Demands Facility Expansion and Temporary Space Solutions

Polaroid currently employs 3,000 workers at its Norwood campus—generating roughly $400,000 a year in local municipal taxes—where every SX-70 camera sold in the United States is assembled. Fueled by the overwhelming market success of the new one-step “Pronto” camera, the facility faces an acute shortage of manufacturing and administrative space.

While successful completion of infrastructure and access improvements could enable a future expansion phase pushing total employment to 4,500 to 5,000 workers and adding new buildings, Trumbour cautioned: “We must solve our access problem before planning for expansion.”

To accommodate immediate overcrowding, Polaroid has leased office space at 990 Washington St. in Dedham, stationed eight temporary trailers on the Norwood property, and moved personnel and purchasing operations into the historic Cameron Forbes mansion located on site. Additionally, the company actively utilizes staggered shifts, employee carpools, and dedicated busing to mitigate traffic pressures.

Town Leadership Recognizes Exemplary Corporate Citizenship

During the gathering, Selectmen Chairman George S. Usevich presented Polaroid executives with a framed town citation honoring the corporation for its civic engagement, remarking: “Polaroid is more than an employer and a taxpayer, it is also a respected neighbor.”

Addressing the logistics of a Route 1A connection, Shea noted that state collaboration would be required to widen the roadway and install traffic signals. While state infrastructure projects typically require extended timelines, company officials expressed optimism that local cooperation from Norwood and neighboring Westwood would accelerate the review.

The evening concluded with an elaborate buffet supper hosted by Chamber President William C. Phipps for the 150 attendees, accompanied by a film showcase of the plant’s advanced manufacturing operations captured by staff photographer Irwin Sterbakov.

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