March 28, 2024

Selectmen Discuss Road Safety Following Fatal Crash

Posted

The Seekonk Board of Selectmen discussed possible ways to improve road safety following a deadly crash earlier this month at the intersection of Route 44 (Taunton Avenue) and Lincoln Street. A husband and wife from Pawtucket were killed June 13 when their vehicle tried to cross Route 44 from Lincoln Street and was struck by a motorist driving eastbound. The speed limit on that stretch of Route 44 is 45 mph.

Selectmen Chairman Justin Sullivan noted the intersection was “very dangerous” at Wednesday’s meeting. Sullivan said a number of road audits and traffic safety studies had been conducted over the last 10 years.

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said the stop signs on Lincoln Street were expanded in size from 30 to 36 inches after the town was able to get on the state’s Department of Transportation list of low cost safety improvements.

In 2017, Mass DOT conducted a road safety audit for the resurfacing work on Route 44. Cadime said a “signal beacon” would be installed at the intersection. “I’m not sure how much a yellow flashing light is really going to do for travel and safety,” Cadime said. “It really is just line of sight and the speed of the vehicles going over there.” Cadime said he sent a letter to Mass DOT requesting a review of the speed limit on Route 44.

“We were trying to get the state to respond,” Sullivan explained. “Unfortunately we’ve had this unfortunate event here that we need to now get the state to open up their eyes and see that it’s as dangerous as we’ve been telling them.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

Share!
Truly local news delivered to every home in town