State aims to widen area of Route 1

REVERE – A state plan to widen Route 1 along its Saugus, Revere and Malden sections is aimed at easing congestion between Copeland Circle and Route 99.State highway officials are reviewing local comments on the project and refining plans and a construction schedule. The work is slated to begin at a point 1,500 feet south of Copeland Circle and cover 2.4 miles up to Route 99.Route 1 will be widened from two lanes to three in each direction and the highway?s interchange at Copeland Circle will be reconstructed with a new interchange built north of the Salem and Lynn streets off-ramps.Highway officials claim the project will improve regional mobility and traffic safety “caused by vehicle conflict points between Route 1 and on- and off-ramps.”Officials have been studying ways to reroute traffic along the Route 1 North Revere section to handle increases in traffic from the Overlook Ridge residential development.Local traffic estimates for Overlook claim the development?s 2,400 unit initial phase and subsequent construction could add 1,000 vehicles to streets surrounding the project.In addition to raising traffic concerns about Overlook, City Councilors have also focused on traffic noise.State highway officials dismissed former Councilor Mark Casella?s request for a sound barrier wall to be built along the highway. They said the barrier must be studied and meet “eligibility criteria for such installations.”Casella said reducing traffic noise along the stretch of Route 1 known to Revere residents as “the Chelsea curve” has as much merit as similar barriers approved by the state and erected on Route 128.Ward 6 Councilor Charles Patch is taking up where his predecessor left off by asking highway officials to increase existing sound barrier walls along Route 1 to benefit Revere residents.Councilor at large Daniel Rizzo wants Conservation and Recreation to determine if land is available near the Cronin skating rink for use as additional parking.