Safety Audit on Tap for Rowley Intersection
ROWLEY— The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has agreed to conduct a Road Safety Audit (RSA) at the intersection of Route 1A (Main Street), Route 133 (Haverhill Street), and Prospect Street in Rowley, following safety concerns raised by local officials and residents.
“Safety concerns about this intersection have been steadily increasing, and the Board of Selectmen amplified them in a recent, urgent request for attention,” said Sen. Bruce Tarr.
“The intersection of 1A and 133 is a major node in regional transportation, but it’s also a neighborhood of small businesses and residents,” said Rep. Kristin Kassner. “The current geometry creates unsafe conditions for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians navigating the intersection.”
The intersection was described as a “horror show” by Selectmen at a recent meeting.
The decision to conduct the road safety audit follows sustained engagement by the Board of Selectmen which formally contacted Tarr and Kassner in early September.
“The intersection … is extremely difficult to safely navigate through in any direction,” said Selectmen Chair Sheri David.
The Road Safety Audit (RSA) should take place in late winter or early spring this year.
Saying MassDOT “strives to put safety at the forefront of everything we do,” District 4 Highway Director Paul Stedman said MassDOT will “identify specific areas of concern and develop appropriate, feasible safety countermeasures that can be advanced rapidly, while also starting the process for developing longer term solutions.”
The RSA process examines crash patterns, roadway design, and operational factors that may contribute to safety concerns.
“On behalf of the Rowley Highway Department, I want to sincerely thank MassDOT, Senator Tarr, and Representative Kassner for their support and assistance in addressing this dangerous intersection,” said Rowley Highway Superintendent Patrick Snow. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we advance solutions that improve safety at this intersection.”
