A $17.7 million project to rebuild Route 133 from Shawsheen Road to North Main Street would include a 10-foot-wide lane for pedestrians and cyclists — a feature that is raising concerns it would slow the flow of 10,000 cars that currently use the road each day.
“It seems we’re trying to fit a little bit of everything,” select board member Kevin Coffey said at a hearing Wednesday held by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation hearing. “I’m not sure that’s really the best utility for the [car traffic], which is really what this road must serve first for the next 50 years.”
Other concerns raised at the hearing include the costs of acquiring right of way properties to allow for widening the road, which is not included in the $17.7 million price tag, and environmental permitting. Officials said they would continue to collect public input as the design process moves forward.
MassDOT held the hearing at Memorial Hall Library as the project reached the 25 percent completion point of the design phase. Under the current timeline, construction would begin in 2029 and last about two years.
The initiative, which has been in the planning stages for several years, aims to address longstanding traffic issues in the area. Key features of the project include the addition of new turning lanes, updated traffic signals, improved sidewalks, and enhanced bicycle accommodations. The town also plans to incorporate stormwater management improvements to better handle runoff in the area.
“The Route 133 Corridor Improvement Project is a significant step toward making this vital roadway safer and more efficient for all users,” the Town said on its Website. “We’re committed to improving both vehicular and pedestrian access while minimizing environmental impacts.”
Funding for the project is being supported by a combination of local, state, and federal sources. Andover officials have emphasized the importance of community input throughout the planning process, hosting multiple public meetings to gather feedback from residents and businesses along the corridor.