Councilor Oliver and colleagues ask Department of Public Infrastructure to install guardrails at Hathaway Road and Rockdale Avenue

Councilor Oliver and colleagues ask Department of Public Infrastructure to install guardrails at Hathaway Road and Rockdale Avenue

Councilor Sean Oliver brought forward a motion at the June 26 New Bedford City Council meeting asking the Department of Public Infrastructure to address repeated vehicle crashes at the intersection of Hathaway Road and Rockdale Avenue by installing guardrails at two locations: in front of 1396 Rockdale Avenue and in front of 1379 Rockdale Avenue. The council voted to refer the request to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the city administration.

Why it matters: Councilors said the curve at Hathaway Road and Rockdale Avenue has a documented pattern of vehicles leaving the road and striking front lawns and utility poles. Councilors said installing guardrails would be a low-cost, near-term measure to protect residents while larger traffic or roadway changes are considered.

What was said

Councilor Oliver, who introduced the motion, described prior outreach to the Department of Public Infrastructure and urged prompt action: "This action is something that we can do now that costs very little money to ensure the safety of that intersection and the properties around it as well." He asked the administration and DPI to "take the proper action, and put a guardrail up there and, keep the residents of this city and that neighborhood safe."

Councilor Brian K. Gomes supported the referral and emphasized the risk to families living at the curve: "We need a guardrail there... People should not live in fear," he said, noting previous incidents in which utility poles were knocked down.

Council action and next steps

A motion by Councilor Oliver, seconded by Councilor Lopes, to refer the matter to the Department of Public Infrastructure and the administration carried by voice vote; the transcript records the motion as adopted. The referral asks DPI and the administration to evaluate and, where appropriate, install guardrails at the two identified locations. The referral does not itself appropriate funds or mandate an installation schedule; those details will be subject to DPI review, design requirements and any procurement or funding processes required by the city.

What the referral does not do

The referral requests DPI review and action; it is not a final order to construct guardrails. The transcript records council direction to refer the matter immediately, but neither an installation timeline nor a funding source was specified during the meeting.

Follow-up: The Department of Public Infrastructure and the administration were asked to report back; the council referral is intended to prompt DPI to develop a plan and timeline for the guardrails and any associated traffic-control measures.