Depot Street Traffic Debated

The chief wants the Depot Street bridge closed altogether until work is completed.

Others want temporary traffic controls installed to allow for two-way traffic.

But by a final vote of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, traffic on the bridge will remain open one-way only while a portion of the bridge remains closed.

Other actions to be taken include:

Modifying signs in both directions.

Providing “Bridge Closed’’ advisories in both directions on Route 122 prior to Depot Street.

Placing flashing barrels along the restricted roadways.

Residents raised concerns about a variety of issues, including safety, inconvenience, residential traffic impact and potential impact on property values.

Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. wants the bridge closed because of his “overwhelming concern’’ that vehicles heading illegally in the wrong direction would cause a head-on collision.

A portion of the bridge was closed earlier this year after the state warned of structural weaknesses in the design that supports the sidewalks.

Closing these sidewalks reduced the width of the travel area from more than 20 feet to 18 feet, which is less than required for two-way traffic.

said the work could take at least a year, because of the state and federal permits required.