NASHUA – Signs on the Main Street Bridge signal the next phase in the city’s $2 million downtown sidewalk improvements project, slated to get back under way next month.
They alert residents, “crosswalk coming soon” – but officials say not to expect any old pedestrian pathway.
“This is the first” of its kind, said Public Works Director Lisa Fauteux on Monday of the LED-illuminated crosswalk that will alert drivers to walkers crossing five lanes on north Main Street. “The plan is to do all the other mid-block crosswalks with the same system.”
There are two other mid-block crossings downtown that could benefit from the system going up from Peddler’s Daughter to The Sausage King, Fauteux said.
The crosswalk should address concerns about residents darting across the street halfway over the Main Street Bridge, rather than walking to an intersection.
“We’re just aware of the safety issues,” Fauteux said. “The restaurants certainly, Peddler’s Daughter and Sausage King and others have brought it to our attention, but it’s also something that’s very visible.”
When residents enter the crosswalk, bollards with motion detectors will trigger LED lighting in the ground that will alert drivers to the pedestrians. Halfway across, walkers can wait on a “safety” island before crossing the next section of street and flicking on the next set of LED lights.
“It’s important to create safe passage whether you have mid-block crosswalks or not,” Fauteux said.![]()
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