In response to persistent complaints from residents, the Norwood Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday night to temporarily close Pleasant Place to traffic, particularly heavy trucks, until the street can be properly resurfaced.
The action followed a detailed report from General Manager John B. Kennedy, who outlined the conditions on the street and the steps needed to move the resurfacing project forward.
Dust Complaints Prompt Action
Kennedy told the Board:
“There have been some recent complaints about dust, etc., concerning Pleasant Place. There is an appropriation of $2,200 to resurface this street.”
He explained that dust problems had been worsened by trucks “ducking the lights” and using Pleasant Place as a cut‑through, raising clouds of dirt and creating a nuisance for residents.
Selectman Harry B. Butters supported the closure, stating:
“I have had complaints and suggest that we close it up. I see no harm in this as trucks duck the lights and raise a lot of dust on the street.”
Sewer Connections Nearly Complete
Kennedy noted that resurfacing had been delayed while the town ensured that all properties were properly connected to the sewer system.
He reported that:
- The Board of Health had been asked to enforce sewer‑connection requirements
- Only two properties had not yet applied for sewer laterals
- To avoid further delays, the Public Works Department would install the remaining laterals up to the property line
This would allow resurfacing to proceed without waiting for the final applications.
Public Works to Begin Work Next Week
Kennedy informed the Board that the Public Works Department was currently finishing a road project at the cemetery:
“We expect this job to be finished about the end of this week and immediately upon the completion of that job, we propose to start the Pleasant Place job.”
He added that closing the street to traffic would only be necessary for about one week, but would greatly help the work proceed smoothly.
Kennedy concluded that the proposal “had great merit,” and the Board agreed.
A Temporary Closure for a Long‑Term Fix
With the vote, Pleasant Place will be closed to through traffic until resurfacing is complete. The decision reflects the town’s effort to balance infrastructure improvements with neighborhood quality of life.
Residents can expect work to begin shortly, with the goal of restoring Pleasant Place to a safe, dust‑free condition.
Text and images may have been created, edited, colorized, or digitally restored using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society
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