Residents press Exeter council to fix West Shore Drive turnaround for buses and emergency vehicles

Residents addressed the Exeter Town Council Monday to renew concerns about a bus turnaround and emergency-vehicle access at the end of West Shore Drive.

Angela Oriello told the council that the problem has persisted for years and has safety consequences: “Emergency vehicles can't get down there and turn around,” she said, adding that a fire truck once could not complete a turn and backed up into a pool, causing extensive damage.

Wendy Shinner Aubens, speaking later in the public-comment period, urged the council to avoid routing the bus across private land or a boat ramp. “I don't feel that that's gonna be safe for children or anybody coming down that hill,” she said, noting erosion and runoff concerns and that extending into private property would create maintenance and liability issues for taxpayers.

Oriello asked the council to revisit a prior survey of property at the turnaround and consider whether the town-owned strip of land (she said the town owns an additional five to eight feet that was not included in the original clearing) could be used before seeking a new location. She also said some obstacles — including a basketball hoop and large boulders — reduce the usable width for turning.

Council members did not adopt a plan at Monday's meeting; they placed the matter on the communications agenda for further review and indicated it would be considered alongside upcoming budget sessions and roadwork planning. The council asked staff to compile potential options and cost estimates before advancing a specific proposal.