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Tamworth Select Board asks DOT to convert village three‑way to four‑way stop; debate continues over broader redesign
Summary
The board voted to ask NH DOT to convert the three‑way intersection in Tamworth Village to a four‑way stop (keeping the slip lane for now) while some board members and the traffic committee urged pursuing a comprehensive redesign with grants and pedestrian improvements instead.
The Tamworth Select Board voted to send a letter to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation asking the agency to convert the village three‑way intersection into a four‑way stop while leaving the slip lane unchanged for now.
The proposal for Tamworth Village drew two distinct threads of argument at the meeting. The town’s traffic safety committee and several board members urged pursuing a comprehensive redesign that could include improved sightlines, pedestrian walkways, potential relocation of veterans’ memorials and grant‑funded infrastructure such as electric vehicle chargers. Committee members said a larger project would allow the town to apply for regional grants and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.
Other residents and several board members argued for immediate, low‑cost action to improve safety: installing an additional stop sign to make the existing three‑way a four‑way stop would be simple, fast and would not preclude a later, more ambitious project. Richard Roberts and other members spoke in favor of installing the four‑way stop now; a majority of the board agreed.
The motion that the board send DOT a letter requesting conversion of the Tamworth Village three‑way to a four‑way stop (keeping the slip lane as is) passed by roll call; the transcript records the vote as four yes and one no.
Board members who favored a comprehensive approach urged working with the traffic committee to assemble a grant application that could fund a full redesign, and planners flagged the Northern Borders regional grant as a possible funding source. The board’s action sends the immediate request to DOT while leaving the door open to a future, larger project if the town secures outside funds.
Next steps: the town will notify DOT of its lettered preference for the village change and the traffic committee will continue work on a broader, grant‑oriented proposal for a future comprehensive redesign.
