Permanent Barriers Prevent Left Turns Out Of Dilla Street Wendy's

MILFORD, MA- The Wendy's on the corner of Dilla Street and Route 85 has been in and out of the spotlight for its traffic problems quite a bit. If you've driven past the restaurant you may have noticed people entering and exiting the parking lot to Route 85- crossing three to four lanes of traffic.

Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin said the severity of the crashes at the intersection was a concern for the department. Because of cars crossing Route 85 to go in the direction of I-495, many accidents ended in a T-bone or broadsided crash, damaging the cars and hurting passengers. "Attempts to place signs on the Wendy’s property directing these vehicles to Dilla Street so that they could safely move through the intersection and go in their desired direction of travel did not prove to be helpful in reducing these serious crashes so the median was installed."

After complaints from residents, the Milford Highway Department has placed permanent barriers preventing left turns onto Route 85. There were temporary barriers in place while renovations to prevent flooding in the parking lot were made. Those have been replaced by plastic 36'' barriers that are bolted into the asphalt. The new barriers sit on springs so that they are somewhat moveable and should last the town years, given they don't sustain too much heavy damage. The barriers are accompanied by 'Right turn only' signs.

Milford Highway Surveyor Scott Crisafulli said the flooding was one cause of the dangerous left turns onto Route 85 but the barriers were the last part of a permanent plan to make the intersection safer. Crisafulli said he and the department are proud to make the roads safer, and what looked like a simple solution took a decent amount of planning and funding.

"In the last couple of months we had it approved by Town Meeting," Crisafulli said, but the plans for improving the intersection have been in the works since the summer. The 200 feet of barrier cost $20,000 according to Crisafulli.

While residents are happy about the improvements, many have already moved on to the next traffic problem- Route 109. Some residents want similar barriers placed near the Stop and Shop and McDonald's along Route 109 to prevent similar dangerous turns. Crisafulli says that project would be twice as long and twice as expensive. "We would love to improve traffic there but you're looking at 400 feet of barrier- that could be $40,000," Crisafulli said. Route 109's proximity to I-495 also poses an issue with the town. Any large scale improvements that could hinder or alter traffic flow onto I-495 have to be cleared with the State Department of Transportation.

It could be some time before Route 109 sees similar barriers but for now, Milfordians are enjoying a safer Route 85.

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Photo Credit: Autumn Johnson/Patch