Selectmen, DOT Discuss Intersection Concerns

The Board of Selectmen invited members of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation on Monday to talk about concerns with town intersections and traffic on Route 111.

William Lambert, who serves as the Bureau of Traffic administrator, explained to the board that the two straight lanes at the Wall St./Route 111 intersection was conceived to keep traffic flowing.

Two board members, Kathleen DiFruscia and Roger Hohenberger, were audible about their discontent with the two through lanes, believing that the right lane should be a setup as a right turn only.

"I'm worried that cars are flying through the right lane to cut off the left lane cars," DiFruscia said. "I've seen near collisions there on many occasions."

Hohenberger said that he believes the setup is promoting road rage, and that there is an intersection with the same situation at the Village Green plaza but it has a right turn only lane.

Lambert explained that the original traffic study is still valid, deferring to both Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson and Police Chief Gerald Lewis, who both said that there have been no accidents at the intersection.

"You need the right lane there," Lewis said. "We have the same exact lane configuration at the northbound off ramp where the right lane merges to the left. We don't get any complaints."

McPherson added that the issue has been looked at since 2008, but concurred that there is no accident data to support a change.

He also said that a right turn lane will cause an increase of accidents for people who will want to cut left to get in the proper lane to go straight.

The impact of the Interstate 93 is set to reconfigure the Route 111 setup, meaning that a fourth lane will soon be added allowing drivers to turn left at the Wall St. intersection.

Betty Dunn, who serves as the Senior Traffic Operations Engineer, also dispelled the idea of stretching the right lane at the intersection all the way to the Village Green plaza light, saying there is not enough room on the right shoulder.

Lambert also presented the concern with traffic buildup, which could back up for miles should the left lane be the only one that can go straight.

Windham resident and former Selectman Dennis Senibaldi said that he thinks people just need to be courteous, and that he thought the intersection issue was put to bed years ago.

Lambert also addressed an issue with the Route 111/North Lowell Road intersection, where drivers have been forced to sit at the light for several minutes with no other cars due to the sensors not picking up their vehicles.

"It may be a factor where peopel are extending beyond the loop detector," Lambert said. "That's going to stay green on the side road until somebody comes up behind them."

Lambert said that fixing that issue was doable, and promised the board that technicians will be out to address the problem.

Hohenberger insisted that if somebody comes to address the issue, that they come immediately.

"I've gone back and forth trying to trip it," he said. "Nothing happens."

The board also plans to schedule an update on the I-93 widening schedule and Route 111 with several DOT officials. The main concern came down to when everything is going to get done.