NORTHAMPTON — The state is working to address congestion where Damon Road meets King Street and Bridge Road, but some are questioning whether or not the latest changes are working.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation released a statement this week alerting motorists to the changes, which include revised pavement markings, traffic signal modifications, a lane alteration and widening of Bridge Road.
The department still has work to do, according to the statement. The work — including additional signs and modifying traffic signals — was scheduled for completion on Tuesday. MassDOT did not respond to questions from the Gazette on Wednesday.
Perhaps the most noticeable change is in the far right lane of Damon Road, which state engineers converted from a right-turn-only lane to one that motorists can use who are either turning northbound on North King Street or heading westbound to Bridge Road. As a result, motorists traveling from Damon Road onto Bridge Road in two lanes must merge in front of the Ford of Northampton dealership, as the road curves up the hill.
Some say the merge is dangerous, especially since there are no signs warning about it.
“Have traveled this route for years, have never seen such a disaster, and a dangerous one at that,” wrote one Facebook commenter. “No sign to indicate the straight-ahead right lane is going to stop abruptly.”
William Richard, general sales manager at the Ford dealership near the corner of Bridge Road and North King Street, agreed that he is uncertain about the goal with the merge.
“It doesn’t really indicate that you merge,” he said, referring to how the newly painted lines fade off into the curb near his office. “Do you dissipate? I don’t really know what you’re supposed to do.”
Richard said the intersection can be enough of a hazard, both before and after the changes, that he cautions people leaving the dealership about frustrated drivers skirting rules of the road.
“People will put their whole car over the yellow line,” he said.
As for the changes, Richard said it’s unclear whether or not the work is finished, so he is reserving judgment.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.