To the Editor:
Data gathered by the Sudbury and Wayland DPWs for the Sherman’s Bridge project show the severe issues with cut-through commuter traffic and speeding on Sherman’s Bridge Road.
Over 800 vehicles each weekday rush hour use Sherman’s Bridge Road to avoid backups on Routes 117 and 27. This volume of traffic often causes half-mile backups from Route 126 past the Oxbow Road intersection and up to the top of the hill just past the bridge.
Interestingly, only about 400 vehicles use the road going west daily during afternoon rush hour. This demonstrates these are not Sudbury residents, but instead from outlying communities on and beyond Route 495.
Residents have stated throughout the Sherman’s Bridge discussions that the rough surface of the bridge today works as an “accidental speed bump.” Data proves this.
About half of vehicles are speeding on the bridge itself, according to the DPW’s data. But only about 500 feet east of the bridge, Wayland Police Department data show 90% of vehicles are speeding.
Vehicles clearly accelerate after — and slow down before — crossing the bridge.
The entire road is heavily used by cyclists, and this section is frequented by pedestrians walking to the bridge.
The Wayland Select Board and the Wayland Board of Public Works must institute both a 20mph traffic safety zone approaching the bridge and speed tables (like those on Glezen Lane for almost two decades) atop each hilltop on Sherman’s Bridge Road for the safety of all constituencies.
Doug Stotz
Sherman’s Bridge Road
