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Council approves $4.745 million MassDOT grant to redesign Appleton Street intersection
Summary
City planners secured a $4,745,366 MassDOT construction grant to modernize the high‑crash Appleton/Central/Gorham intersection, including wider sidewalks, protected pedestrian crossings and upgraded signals; the council voted unanimously to accept the grant.
The Lowell City Council voted unanimously to accept a $4,745,366 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to rebuild and modernize the Appleton Street intersection (Appleton/Central/Gorham). DPD planner Ms. Altman described the project as a safety‑focused modernization that will widen sidewalks, upgrade traffic signals to modern technology, improve crossings and add a better bus stop servicing a high‑use transit location.
"We have a design and we were granted the money by the state," Ms. Altman told the council, noting the location is among the city's highest crash intersections and that the project will better define vehicular capacity while improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and bus riders.
Councilors discussed coordination with nearby projects and traffic patterns; Ms. Altman confirmed the design will remove a narrow left‑turn slip lane, improve signage and provide a protected mid‑block crossing to serve plaza and transit users. The council then authorized the city manager to accept, appropriate and expend the award; roll call recorded all present councilors voting yes.
The vote authorizes the city to move into construction once required procurements and final steps are completed. DPD said the award includes both construction funding and design completion work; project staff will return with scheduling and traffic management plans for construction staging.
