Town Scraps Plan to Extend University Avenue-July 11, 1979

University Avenue Extension Plan Scrapped

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On July 11, 1979, Norwood selectmen officially abandoned the long-debated plan to extend University Avenue through the Ellis Well Field area to Route 1. This reversal marks a major shift in town development, following persistent environmental concerns raised by residents regarding the potential threat to the town’s water supply. The board voted to accept a recommendation from the state Department of Public Works (DPW) to instead dead-end University Avenue at American Drive on a temporary basis, while proceeding with the comprehensive reconstruction of American Drive and Everett Street.

The change in strategy is intended to accommodate traffic flow from University Avenue without compromising the integrity of the Ellis Well Field. In a correspondence to Town Manager John J. Carroll, J. T. Cronin of the state DPW underscored that the extension through the well field was not a sustainable permanent solution due to environmental protections. Selectmen have agreed to pursue funding from the Federal Urban System to cover the reconstruction of the newly prioritized route, representing a significant pivot from the planning designs that had been in the works for several years.

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