Published in the August 25, 2015 edition

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD — A year ago, the Board of Selectmen approved a one-year plan to change Armory Street from a two-way street to a one-way, with traffic flowing from North Avenue to Main Street. It was also agreed at that time that the matter would be revisited again in one year.

That has indeed occurred and last night the Board of Selectmen accepted the Traffic Advisory Committee’s recommendation to make another change to Armory Street, but that does not mean two way traffic will be restored. Instead, Armory Street will remain a one-way street but traffic will flow in opposite direction from now. Once the changes take effect, Armory Street will be one-way from Main Street to North Avenue. The change will go into effect over the next week or so, according to Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio.

When Armory Street was made one-way last year, it was part of a larger traffic plan for the Galvin Middle School. It was determined that the change would enhance safety in the drop-off and pickup of students over the past year as construction continued at the Galvin site. Parents dropping off students would enter Armory Street from North Avenue and enter the school lot from an access road off Armory Street and then continue out to North Avenue.

Police Lt. Steven Skory met with the selectmen last night to present the TAC’s recommendations with respect to Armory Street. He said that the TAC’s Aug 10 meeting, the primary agenda item was to consider the traffic pattern for the Galvin Middle School now that construction is complete. He said that residents of Armory Street were invited to share their input on how they would like to see traffic flow on the street.

After a brief discussion with the residents, Skory said that the TAC came up with the following recommendations for the coming school year:

• Armory Street will remain a “one-way” street, except the travel direction should be reversed so that it is one-way from Main Street to North Avenue, with parking to remain limited to one side of the street.

• The access driveway between the Galvin School lot and Armory Street will be “one-way” northbound, so that vehicles may exit the school lot onto Armory Street. (The TAC agreed to re-evaluate this if it becomes a problem).

• The main driveway to the Galvin School that runs in front of the building should allow for “two-way” traffic between North Avenue and Main Street.

• A sign will need to be installed at the Armory Street entrance/exit of CVS that prohibits a left turn.

• Parking will continue to be limited to the north side of Armory Street.

Skory stressed that traffic within the Galvin School site will also change. Instead of running one way from Main Street to North Avenue as it currently does, traffic will flow two ways within the school lot.

He said that there will continue to be a crossing guard at the Main Street entrance to the school and for the first month or so of the school year, a police officer will be stationed at the North Avenue side to assist with traffic getting in and out.

Selectman Patrick Glynn asked Skory if he was at all concerned that with traffic flowing both ways through the school lot that it could be used as a cut through both during school hours and in general.

Skory said that he hadn’t considered the possibility but added that measures could be taken such as posting or placing barricades if it does become a problem. He said that any of the recommended changes could be adjusted on the fly as circumstances dictate.

Skory said that school representatives at the Aug. 10 TAC meeting indicated that school buses will continue to use the access road behind the school for drop-off and pickup of students.

The selectmen voted unanimously to approve the TAC’s recommendations for Armory Street and the Galvin School site.

In an unrelated traffic matter, Skory told the selectmen that the TAC was recommending that “No Parking Here to Corner” signs be installed on the north side of Lakeview Avenue between the intersection with Main Street and the first driveway on both sides of the street.

He said that cars frequently park on Lakeview Avenue too close to the intersection, narrowing the roadway and making turns from Main Street onto Lakeview problematic.

The selectmen also approved the TAC recommendations with respect to Lakeview Avenue.