SAUGUS — In the wake of numerous complaints from residents, Saugus officials are seeking a way to make the town’s crosswalks safer for pedestrians and drivers.
The issue was discussed at a Jan. 9 Board of Selectmen meeting, where several board members expressed concern over crosswalks they deemed “slippery” and dangerous.
According to selectman Jeff Cicolini, the crosswalks’ slip-factor means several of the town’s streets become especially hazardous in rainy or snowy weather.
“I’m not really 100 percent sure what causes it, but I do feel like the crosswalks are more slippery than they’ve been in the past,” he said. “The day I sold my motorcycle, I took it out for a last ride. It was morning and it was a little damp out, and when I went over (a crosswalk), my motorcycle’s rear end slipped.
“I’ve experienced it in all my vehicles. If there’s any moisture at all, or any temperature changes, that’s what happens.”
Town Manager Scott Crabtree noted the crosswalk on Winter Street in particular, has produced a number of issues for pedestrians in recent years.
To fix the problem, Cicolini suggested several solutions, including repainting the crosswalks with a different kind of paint that can withstand a wide range of weather conditions, or using a more expensive method the town has previously tested on a small number of crosswalks.
“(The town) redid the crosswalks on the side of Town Hall with a new mechanism,” Cicolini said. “It’s much more costly, but it’s supposed to last a lot longer, so the manager wanted to do a little more research on that and perhaps propose that we do that throughout the town.”
Crabtree said of the pilot crosswalks: “They’re much more expensive, but they’re estimated to last five to 10 years. If they do, then they’re worthwhile.”
Vice chair Corinne Riley said she wanted to find a quick, temporary fix to minimize dangers during the winter months.
“My biggest concern is the safety of the pedestrians and the drivers. There has to be a quick fix that can happen right now,” she said at the Jan. 9 meeting. “We can address a more permanent fix if need be when the weather gets better, but I want to see this addressed sooner than later.”
At last month’s meeting, Crabtree said the cost of repainting crosswalks, in addition to other proposed Department of Public Works projects, could total around $2 million.
