Debate on detour

Wellesley

CONCERNS RISE OVER DETOUR: A proposed detour of Route 9 traffic onto Cedar and Walnut streets is slated to begin Monday, and residents of the area expressed much concern this week that the plan will create both safety and traffic problems.

At a Board of Selectmen’s meeting last week, town executive director Hans Larsen said the detour “will not have a significant impact” on Cedar and Walnut streets traffic, a sentiment echoed by Police Chief Terrence Cunningham.

The detour is needed to help traffic that normally exits Route 9 at the Grantland Road ramp to reach Route 16 while the ramp is closed during final reconstruction of the Route 16 bridge.

A large number of citizens turned out for the Selectmen’s meeting to ask the Board to reconsider the detour or take steps to mitigate the increased traffic along the residential streets. Cunningham and Board Chairman Owen H. Dugan promised residents they would monitor the impact of the detour carefully.

-- Lisa Keen