As we head into July, the majority of the work in the Fitchburg portion of Route 12 will be complete. There are still projects to be finished in Fitchburg, but the major work there is done!

Traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Wanoosnoc and Water Streets and are already in use. The traffic signals at the Nichols and Battles Streets and Water Street have been installed but are not yet functioning. Check back for information on when to expect to see them in use.

In Leominster, roadway widening is occurring near the Route 2 Hyundai site. This portion should be completed before the July 4th holiday weekend. Next week (beginning June 30th), expect sidewalks to be poured and granite curbs to be installed in this same section of roadway. Catch basins and manholes will also be installed.  If you have any questions or concerns contact Betsy Zoldak at (978) 353-7600 extension 241.

The month of June so far brought much action and progress on Route 12. Paving has started on Holman Avenue. This week expect granite curb installation starting near the Irving Station. This work moves towards the Leominster line. Widening work will continue in the State Street area. The installation of signal equipment at the intersections of Route 12 & Benson St. as well as Route 12 & Nichols and Battles Streets will continue. This includes the structures the lights will be hung off of as well as the actual traffic lights.  If you have any questions or concerns contact Betsy Zoldak at (978) 353-7600 extension 241.

During the remainder of the month of May, there will be roadway widening between the area near Dunkin Donuts and the State Street intersection. Subcontractors will continue to install signal equipment at the intersection of Route 12 and Bemis & Wanoosnoc Road in Fitchburg. The Nichols and Battles and State Street intersection will also continue to see improvements. At the end of the month, anticipate work on the curb installation from the Benson Street area southward into Leominster on Rte. 12. After this is complete, expect work to begin on the sidewalks behind the curbs.  If you have any questions or concerns contact Betsy Zoldak at (978) 353-7600 extension 241.

With the official start of spring behind us, it is time again for work to start on the Route 12 project.  This week preparation for the installation of permanent traffic signals at Bemis Road began.  Work will also continue on the sidewalks between Benson Street and the Nichols and Battles Streets.  Other signal work will also be done in the area in order to connect the proposed new traffic signals. This site will continue to provide you with information on upcoming work throughout the spring and summer.  If you have any questions or concerns contact Betsy Zoldak at (978) 353-7600 extension 241.

In Leominster, plans call for a significant upgrade and realignment of the intersection between Erdman Way and Route 12. These improvements will require the widening of the road to accommodate better turning lanes into Erdman Way from Route 12. After this intersection heading North into Fitchburg, the plans call for just two 12 foot lanes and 7.5 foot shoulders along with 5.5 foot sidewalks starting at approximately JN Phillips Glass and moving to Route 2 Hyundai. By limiting the project within this section to two-lanes with wide shoulders and sidewalks, the construction can be completed within the existing 50 feet of land owned by the state along Route 12 and without land takings. Because some businesses within this section now utilize publicly owned land for parking, the City and Mass Highway met with most business owners in the Erdman Way Area to evaluate their parking arrangements to minimize the impact.

In Fitchburg, plans call for a significant upgrade and realignment of the intersection between Bemis Road and Route 12. These improvements will require the widening of Route 12 and a section of Bemis Road as well as dramatic changes to the slope of this intersection to make it more level and less dangerous. As you head out of this intersection along Route 12 toward Leominster and starting at about Rayco Motors, the plan calls for just two 12 foot lanes and 7.5 foot shoulders as well as 5.5 foot sidewalks on both sides of the road. As is the case in Leominster, this two-lane proposal can be completed within the existing public way without land takings until Connors Passway..

This segment covers an approximately half-mile stretch of Route 12 starting at 550 feet before State Street (at Route 2 Hyundai), in Leominster, and continuing North into Fitchburg 550 feet past Benson Street to Connors Passway. The primary improvements called for in Mass Highway's plans for this section include improvements to the lights at State Street and the installation of lights at both Nichols and Battles Streets on the City line and at Benson Street. In this section, the public way needs to be expanded from the current 50 feet to just 59 feet in order to accomodate the three intersection improvements, an 11.5 foot through travel lane and 11.5 foot turning lanes as well as 5.5 foot sidewalks and a 2 foot shoulder. Within this section, there are approximately 35 property owners and 60 parcels that will be impacted by limited land takings and only one building that will need to be removed, in Fitchburg, across from Benson Street.

Below are comments made by Mass Highway District Director Tom Warizula during a public informational session held on Tuesday, April 2, 2002, in Leominster. His comments make it clear that local officials have just two choices regarding the Benson Street to State Street improvements proposed by Mass Highway. The choice is to do nothing or to fix this section of Route 12 the right way.

"Mass Highway has decided that you must have four lanes from State Street to Benson Street if you install lights. You will have traffic jams the distance of two football fields on Route 12 if you put in lights at these intersections without four lanes. This is what is required to be done in the area to be improved. Mass Highway will not fund a project that will not work. We looked at using the railroad tracks, three lanes, and two lanes with wide shoulders. All were discussed at public meetings and they were ruled out."
Tom Waruzila
Mass Highway - District 3 Highway Director