WILMINGTON, MA — At a meeting last month, the Wilmington Select Board received an update from DPW Director Jamie Magaldi on two key traffic signal projects in town.
The Town is installing emergency vehicle traffic control signals on Church Street, across from the Public Safety Building. The signals will be triggered when fire department vehicles leave their bays to respond to emergency calls. Fire Chief Bill Cavanaugh has publicly lamented the number of “close calls” his firefighters have had when pulling out of the station.
A preconstruction meeting took place last month between contractor Coviello Electric, engineering consultant Green International Affiliates, Fire Chief Cavanaugh, and DPW staff members.
Construction on the project is expected to begin this month. Initial steps will consist of setting up erosion controls, saw cutting conduit locations along Church Street and the Fire Station Apron, and installing mast arm foundations, associated conduits, and cabinet hardware.
The project will not be completed, however, until September or October. The traffic signal mast arms will not be delivered for another 3-4 months due to the the fabrication time needed for custom traffic signal mast arms and scarcity of materials.
The project is being funded through a $400,000 appropriation voters overwhelmingly approved at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting.
The Town is also making significant upgrades at the Shawsheen Avenue/Hopkin Streets intersection, next to the Shawsheen Elementary School.
Contractor Dagle Electrical Corporation began work on the project in April. Signal mast arm foundations have been installed, as well as the associated conduits and ancillary electrical equipment. The installation of new granite curbing, sidewalk adjustments, and modifications to existing accessible mini-bus student drop off locations along Hopkins Street began last month.
The project will be finished with the delivery and installation of the mast arms by the end of August. In addition to the replacement of the existing signals, the project will result in upgraded curbing and sidewalk, as well as new pavement and traffic markings in the intersection.
The DPW promises to continue to update the School Department of any updates or changes to the project schedule.
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