Route 20 Reconstruction Project in Charlton & Oxford - Project details

The project goal is to improve the traffic operation and safety of Route 20 in Charlton and Oxford.

Table of Contents

Safety improvements

Project elements to improve safety will include:

  • Roadway widening to include center median, shoulders and turning lanes at intersections
  • Raised Median or Barrier separating opposing directions of travel to reduce number and severity of crashes
  • Addition of a roadside clear zone for vehicle recovery, or guardrail
  • Designated ‘Emergency Pull-Off Areas’ for police enforcement and safe vehicle refuge
  • Improvements to Route 56 signalized intersection (protected left turn provisions/phasing)
  • Speed reduction measures

To understand how the proposed reconstruction may affect safety, historic crash data from Route 20, West and East of the project limits was compared and evaluated. The current proposed project includes elements such as median barrier, shoulders and raised curb median as seen utilized where the crash rates are lower.

Speed mitigation

Project initiatives to address speed along the Route 20 corridor are achieved through Speed Enforcement, Signage and Design which may include:

  • Designated ‘Emergency Pull-Off Areas’ for Police Enforcement and safe vehicle refuge
  • Speed Feedback Signs and Chevron Signage at curves
  • Advisory Speed Limit signage, cautioning lower speed limit at roadway curve near Oxbow Road/ Oak Drive
  • Modest modifications to improve roadway vertical and horizontal geometry
  • Modest Roadway widening providing median and roadside shoulders
  • MassDOT will retain existing Regulatory Speed Limit signage post-construction 

For comparison purposes, the corridor operating speeds and crashes have been compared with adjacent sections of Route 20 during the previous project phase. Various design elements such as lane and shoulder width, signage, median treatments, and barrier systems were evaluated with respect to their influence on vehicular speeds and safety. Design elements shown to reduce speeds have been incorporated into the project.

Proposed median design

  • Richardsons Corner Road to Route 56, the proposed design includes a cement concrete median barrier. This matches the existing portion of Route 20 to the west of the project limits in Charlton.
  • Route 56 to Route 12, the proposed design includes a 4-foot wide raised curb median. The raised median will match the existing roadway to the east of the project limits in Auburn.

Intersection Improvements and U-turn locations

  • The proposed project includes intersection improvements at four locations:
    • Richardson Corner Road
    • Route 56
    • Route 12
  • Each signalized intersection will be equipped with upgraded or new signal equipment with optimized timing to reduce vehicle queuing and improve level of service.
  • Pedestrian Crossings and signal push button at each reconstructed signalized intersection
  • It was determined that the intersection of Oxbow Road with Route 20 would not meet the warrants for the installation of traffic signals. To safely provide full access to and from Oxbow Road and accommodating U-turns at this location, the team will construct a roundabout.
    • Route 20 Eastbound and westbound will travel through the roundabout in two lanes, while single lanes are provided for U-turns and vehicles entering or leaving Oxbow Road.
    • The roundabout is designed to accommodate large trucks while a tighter Oxbow Road approach is sufficient for school buses and fire trucks.
    • The driveway to Arnie’s Towing is integrated with direct access to the roundabout and the John Deere business driveway is just to the east of the roundabout.
    • The roundabout and approaches to it will be well-lit to provide safe visibility during dark hours.
  • Investigation and analysis were performed at the following intersections with Route 20, and it was determined that current conditions do not warrant a signalized intersection. Left turns onto Route 20 and U-turns will therefore be restricted by a median at each of the following locations:
    • Baypath and Glenmere Road
    • Pioneer Drive
    • Thayer Pond Village (Emergency vehicle access will be accommodated at curb median)

Potential development adjacent to Thayer Pond Village

A new private development is anticipated on the Westbound side of Route 20, easterly of Thayer Pond Village. The private developers are currently pursuing local and state permits and are in coordination with the Town of Oxford Planning Board.

During the initial project development phase several meetings were conducted with the current developer and their design team in effort to coordinate public highway improvements with the adjacent private development. The proposed design supports a future signalized entrance, should it become warranted in the future.

Emergency response times

The project team has been working with emergency responders in both Towns to ensure adequate response times for first responders both during and after construction. Although the presence of a median barrier may require response vehicles to travel a greater distance, it is anticipated that emergency responders will experience reduced response times due to the ability to bypass traffic with increased roadway shoulder widths and signal equipment control. A mutual response agreement exists with first responders in adjacent communities who respond as required.

Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations

Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations were selected based on evaluation of pedestrian and bike use demand throughout the corridor. Design will include:

  • A Shared Use Path (SUP) for bicycles and pedestrians on the Westbound side of Route 20 from Route 12 to Oxbow Road in Oxford. Where practical, the SUP will be separated from motor vehicles by a guardrail installed along the curb line. Additionally, a 4-foot roadway shoulder and a 6-inch raised curb will separate the SUP from vehicular traffic.
  • A pedestrian sidewalk on the Eastbound side of Route 20 from Route 56 to Route 12.
  • Crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signal at each existing or new signalized intersection. An on-demand push button for pedestrian signals will help direct pedestrians when crossing the street. All vehicular lanes from each direction will have a red light during the pedestrian crossing phase.

WRTA bus route

The project team was in communication with the WRTA throughout the initial project development phase. At this time, the WRTA will not make a flag stop on Route 20 within the project limits and does not have definitive plans to incorporate additional stops.

Utilities

The project team has coordinated the current design with both Town and Private utility companies to ensure infrastructure needs are accommodated and opportunity has been provided to upgrade respective systems.

  • Charlton: The Town of Charlton owns an existing dry water line from Richardson’s Corner to Glenmere Road which is for future use and not being extended east of Glenmere Road at this time. There is currently no Town sanitary sewer service along the Route 20 corridor in Charlton, and no plans are included as part of this project.
  • Oxford: The water infrastructure in the Town of Oxford is privately owned and operated. The existing system is located on Route 56 and on Route 20 from Pioneer Drive to Route 12. The expansion or upgrade of the water distribution network is under consideration by the owner. Town of Oxford owns and maintains the existing sanitary sewer network along Route 56 and on Route 20 from Route 56 to east to Turner Road.  The Town is currently seeking grants to assist in the funding of upgrades to the existing system and extension of service west to Oxbow Road and on Pioneer Drive.
  • The project will require the relocation of most of the existing utility poles along the corridor.  These utility poles carry electric and telecommunication services. The costs associated with relocating these services underground is prohibitive. 

Trash collection

Basic municipal services such as trash collection or private services such deliveries, will generally function as they do today. Residents should contact their Town or the private vendor providing the service for any help or coordination.

Contact   for Route 20 Reconstruction Project in Charlton & Oxford - Project details

Phone

Address

10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

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