Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, along with state and local officials, recently gathered in Worcester to break ground on the $14 million Kelley Square Improvement Project.
The square is located at the junctions of Madison, Vernon, Millbury, Water, Harding and Green streets, and has one of the highest crash rates in the state.
The project will improve safety and traffic flow by installing a Hybrid roundabout design while accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists better. The project also includes a section of Madison Street from Kelley Square to the railroad overpass just west of Gold Street and intersection modifications at the I-290 eastbound and westbound ramps with Vernon Street.
“This project builds new connections for everyone, transforming a crossroads where there have been a high number of crashes into a safer, more efficient and more organized location,” Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. “The new innovative design will provide benefits for all modes of travel and will support the local businesses and residents who call Kelley Square home.”
In the last four years, the state has invested billions of dollars in improving bridges, roads, transit, and other transportation infrastructure.
An $18 billion Transportation Bond bill is pending in the Massachusetts Legislature.