New Bedford councilors press DPI to pilot single lane, clearer markings on Cove Road West

Councilors on the New Bedford City Council Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods pressed the Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI) on Feb. 11, 2025, to pilot converting a stretch of Cove Road West to a single westbound lane and to reinstall clearer pavement markings and brighter merge signage near the Veterans Monument west of County Street.

The request, made in a written communication from Councilors Gomes, Pereira, Abreu and Council President Carney and discussed at the committee meeting, asked DPI and the Traffic Commission to make Cove Road West a single lane from Margin Street at the Veterans Monument west to Crapo Street, to install reflective cones or “traffic sticks,” to repaint residential parking and cover existing single stripes with black asphalt, and to install single-lane merge signage. The measure was referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure; Rule 40 was waived to allow immediate referral.

“You're correct in saying that we put the barrels out,” DPI Commissioner Jamie said at the meeting, describing temporary measures already in place. Jamie said DPI had delayed permanent changes while the West Rodney French project was underway but that staff are now conducting traffic counts and would pilot line painting and other changes in spring to reduce confusion.

Councilors said pavement paint and existing road markings are inconsistent with signage and that the painted dotted lines from recent repaving created the impression of two lanes. Jamie said crews temporarily painted the dotted lines black to mask them after the contractor mistakenly installed dotted lane markings during repaving; the city expects those marks to wear or be removed by sandblasting when appropriate.

Traffic Commissioner Laurie Alfonso said sign changes would require coordination with the traffic division because that office controls regulatory signs. Alfonso noted two existing signs at the monument area — a “right lane” (or “bridal lane”) sign and a “left lane merge” sign — and suggested installing a newer, brighter sign with a symbol rather than text to improve legibility.

Councilors asked DPI to provide crash data for the intersection area (County/Margin/Cove) to the committee; Commissioner Jamie agreed to email the committee the relevant records. Councilor Pereira asked that any engineering recommendations be routed to the Traffic Commission for inclusion on its agenda and that the committee be notified when that occurs.

A motion to receive and place the referral on file was made and recorded as received and placed on file (motion moved by Councilor Oliver; seconded by Councilor Lopes; vote recorded as “Aye”). Later in the discussion Councilor Morad moved “for some further action,” seconded by Councilor Lopes, to proceed with the review and pilot work described; that motion was recorded and referred to DPI for implementation and follow-up with the Traffic Commission.

The committee’s next steps include DPI’s engineering review, a potential Traffic Commission agenda item if new or changed regulatory signage is recommended, and the promised data email to committee members. Councilors indicated they want permanent paint and signage installed once DPI’s pilot and engineering work conclude in spring.

The council did not set a formal deadline at the meeting for completion of the pilot or for final paint and signage work.