Community Drive access to the Merrimack Valley School campus will become a one way entrance only following completion of a portion of a larger campus plan approved by the Merrimack Valley School District in 2014, designed to improve traffic flow and safety. Construction is expected to begin this week. The City is partnering with MVSD and will share the cost as part of its Capital Improvement Project #380-Neighborhood Safety Improvement, approved in the 2024 budget passed last month. MVSD will coordinate with City staff and the City's paving contractor, GMI Asphalt LLC, to install a traffic island and complete pedestrian sidewalk improvements along a portion of Allen Street. The result will be an improvement for Community Drive residents in reducing traffic volumes during afternoon hours especially. The City will be able to monitor effects this change may have on Allen Street, High Street, and Beede Drive and consider additional options as needed.
Phase I of the construction starts this week (July 17, 2023).