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Residents urge action after near‑misses at Mill Street bridge; town says MassDOT will decide major changes
Summary
A Lee resident described frequent confrontations at the Mill Street/Washington Mountain Road bridge and urged the select board to explore closure or a traffic signal. Town staff said MassDOT inspects the deteriorated bridge and any permanent changes would likely involve MassDOT or the town paying for signal installation.
A resident who said, "I'm a Lee resident. I live at 110 Mill Street," urged the select board on Aug. 4 to take steps to reduce dangerous driver interactions at the Mill Street bridge, where drivers alternately use a one‑lane path and occasional accidents and heated exchanges have occurred. She proposed closing Washington Mountain Road or installing a traffic light and asked who has decision authority for such changes.
Staff and board members said MassDOT inspects the structure frequently because of its deteriorated condition and would make the ultimate determination on a full closure; the town can request changes but would generally pay for any signal installation unless MassDOT funds it as part of reconstruction. A staff member said MassDOT had recommended alternating stop controls for the interim and noted the bridge is on an accelerated inspection routine because of its condition.
Board members described recent short‑term measures: public works trimmed vegetation to improve sight lines after residents raised concerns, and flashing stop signs and LED lights were added after earlier incidents. Members noted construction planning is ongoing, with work anticipated to begin in 2027 and engineers still weighing full closure versus staged lane work. The board agreed to follow up with DPW, reach out to affected Washington Mountain Road residents about possible closure impacts, and keep MassDOT and conservation commission considerations in mind.
