FALMOUTH – The Falmouth DPW will be conducting a corridor study of route 151 to come up with options to improve the highway’s safety. several serious accidents and A recent fatality served as a major impetus to plan the study.
At a recent meeting, director of public works Raymond Jack told selectmen that they should first look at the road as a whole rather than specific intersections. “It’s time to revisit 151 as a corridor area and do an entire study. Then based on the results of that study we can go back and take a look at those individual intersections and have a long-term game plan.”
The study will look at the stretch between Falmouth woods road and Currier road, and include traffic data from the Massachusetts department of transportation and the Cape Cod commission.
Jack explained a few of the areas that need to be observed. “We’ll be looking at the vehicle volumes and their speeds, and turning movement counts during the peak periods. Turning movements at the intersections are the left and right hand turns. We need to identify exactly how many of those turns there are.”
Other areas that need to be looked at include seasonal traffic levels, peak usage, include seasonal traffic levels, capacity and queuing at the intersections. Although 151 is considered a major thoroughfare, it is one lane in each direction.
Jack pointed out that a traffic light isn’t always the solution. Alternatives include roundabouts, more signage and lane adjustment.
Although the town pays for the highways maintenance and repair, dot approval will be required for any changes proposed.
The study should last around five months with construction not commencing until next spring.
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