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12/26/2023 12:39 PMA long-planned proposal to fix a significant stretch of Nut Plains Road that will address safety and flooding concerns was approved unanimously by the Board of Selectman (BOS) last month. According to town officials, this will be the first step of a larger effort to widen the road, improve sightlines, address pedestrian/bike safety, and mitigate flooding issues on both Nut Plains Road and Goose Lane.
The BOS approved and awarded the bid for the project at their meeting on Nov. 20, as the state is picking up the tab for much of the alteration costs, according to town officials. This portion of the project, according to Town Engineer Janice Plaziak, will commence at the junction of Nut Plains and Goose Lane and will continue down to the junction at the bottom of Stepstone Hill Road where Nut Plains Road terminates.
Plaziak said insufficient drainage along large sections of Nut Plains Road causes water ponding issues even during light precipitation events.
“It is a very flat road, so with this new project, we are going to be installing…40 catch basins and forcing in a profile to the road to create high spots and low spots to be able to catch the water,” said Plaziak. “We will also be replacing the existing cross-culverts on the road.”
The main component of the more than $2,590,000 project will be redesigning what neighbors call the “Bermuda Triangle.” This confusing junction of Goose Lane and Nut Plains Road at the Nut Plains Cemetery has blind sightlines in all three directions, compounded by a well-used game trail for deer and other species, which creates a unique set of hazards for drivers and pedestrians.
Currently, westbound travelers on Goose Lane have a yield sign approaching the intersection that is often disregarded by drivers. Those traveling west on Nut Plains have both a blind curve and steep hill to negotiate, and drivers on Nut Plains wishing to take a left onto Goose Lane often become confused and can cut in front of oncoming traffic.
Travelers on Goose Lane wishing to take a left and go up the Nut Plains Road hill toward town have an almost impossible task with both directions being blind, making that maneuver extremely hazardous.
“There is only going to be one stop sign and that will be coming down the hill at Nut Plains. It will come down to a typical ‘T’ intersection with Goose Lane,” Plaziak said. “The main roadway will be Nut Plains-slash-Goose Lane, the portion of Nut Plains that goes to North Madison Road (bottom of Stepstone Hill) and Goose Lane that goes down to the highway, that will be the through traffic road, and the only stop sign will be on Nut Plains that heads west coming down the hill.”
According to Plaziak, the project will also address road width and safety concerns, including fog lines.
“The road is very inconsistent in its current width; some areas are a little more narrow than 26 feet, and some areas are a little wider than 26 feet. But generally, the road is 26 feet and we are going to keep it that way and try [to] minimize intrusion to adjacent properties,” said Plaziak. “There will be two 11-foot lanes and two two-foot shoulders. We will be painting a double center line and also white fog lines.”
Plaziak said her department has been working closely with the Public Works Department, fire department, police department, and Guilford Safe Streets Task Force to create the best possible proposal.
“Right now, we’ve all settled on a comfort level with 11-foot lanes,” Plaziak said. “The old standard used to be 12-foot lanes…the attempt is to give a little more room to other users of the road such as walkers and bicyclists, but to still have a wide enough lane that both fire and public works feel are safe. We are excited to finally get this project underway and hoping for good weather next season to get it done.”
According to Plaziak, the start date will be weather-dependent but is scheduled for the spring of 2024.
“I believe in the contract there is 240 days contract period. Weather permitting, in terms of how our winter goes, if we have the ability to start early, we may do that, and that will determine the completion date,” Plaziak said.
Many Guilford residents, including bikers and pedestrians, use Nut Plains and Goose Lane as a “backway” into town and Route 1, and these roads are very heavily traveled by a large section of town, especially during the school year.
Nut Plains Park is heavily used for its practice and playing fields; the dog park can also see intense use at all hours. Numerous residents recreate at the East River Preserve, arriving via car, foot, and bike, and the town’s “Stump Dump” is also located nearby, which sees larger vehicle and truck use during dump hours.
According to Plaziak, the next portion of the project will involve the same alterations on Goose Lane from the Nut Plains junction back toward town all the way to the I-95 crossover.