Route 6 - Main Street Preliminary Design Alternatives

The links on this page are to four preliminary design alternatives.  Drainage studies, elevations, analysis of curb cuts and much other work remains to be done.  Each shows temporary easements for side slopes and the extent and area of potential takings along Main Street necessary for the alternative.  All of these designs will require  design waivers from MassDOT because their design standards would require sidewalks on both sides of Main Street and Route 6, Adding additional sidewalks would enlarge the size of the takings required.  No takings are contemplated along Route 6 as the existing layout is wide enough to accomodate these alternatives.  

Independent of these four alternatives is whether the Main Street sidewalk should be extended to Higgins Lane to connect with the existing sidewalk system to the town center.  That extension will require an change order to the engineering contract and the appropriation of additional design funds.  Construction of the extension to Higgins Lane may not be covered by MassDOT in which event the construction costs would be borne by the Town. 

The four preliminary design alternatives are as follows:

Alternative 1: Sidewalks are on both sides of Route 6 with no separation between the traveled roadway and the sidewalks.  Main Street is altered to be closer to a 90 degree intersection with Route 6.  There is a single sidewalk along the North side of Main Street.

Alternative 2: The same as Alternative 1 except the sidewalks on Main Street are moved to the South side of Main Street.

Alternative 3: The same as Alternative 2 except that a grass separator has been added between the Route 6 sidewalks ant the traveled roadway.

Alternative 4:  The same as Alternative 2 except that the Route 6 - Main Street intersection remains at its present angle.