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Board flags sidewalk gaps and a dangerous bridge as city continues Elm Street corridor work
Summary
Planning board members pressed for better pedestrian connections around new developments and raised recurring safety concerns about a narrow state-owned bridge with no breakdown lane or adequate pedestrian facilities; staff noted upcoming Elm Street corridor improvements and suggested pursuing DOT review.
Planning board members used other business to emphasize gaps in the city's sidewalk network near recent development projects and warned that new sidewalks can funnel pedestrians into areas without safe crossings. One member said the lack of connected sidewalks was creating hazardous conditions and urged the city to prioritize pedestrian links as development proceeds.
The chair singled out a state-owned bridge that carries significant traffic but has no breakdown lane or pedestrian facility, saying, "Every time I drive over that bridge, I'm like, this bridge. We need a new one." Staff noted ongoing Elm Street corridor work that will add signalized crossings and pedestrian improvements and suggested the city ask the state Department of Transportation to review the bridge for upgrades.
