Winchendon Courier reader William Jarvis refers to an article printed in the April 8, 2016 edition of the newspaper. A copy of the article is reproduced below. --Ed.

To the Editor:
I am writing to you about your article in the Friday, April 8, 2016 issue of the Winchendon Courier, titled: "Pesky intersections may get make-overs". Personally, I see a serious problem for all those tractor trailers attempting to negotiate this new roundabout, especially when they ascend Spring Street hill approaching Blair Square. I believe that the size of Blair Square, its square area, is too small to support this proposed roundabout, especially its exact placement, as pictured in the article. It will prove to be problematic for those passing tractor trailers, especially with that small hill they need to ascend upon entering Blair Square.

I am able to somewhat agree with Chairman Mr. Mike Barbaro proposes, installing STOP signs at the intersections, however, I also have to agree with the Town's DPW Superintendent, Mr. Al Gallant, about trying to start a truck on a hill after it is brought to a full stop, especially during the winter months.

I propose making these intersections to be three way stops with only one direction having the right of way, that being for Spring Street at Blair Square and, for River Street at Tannery Hill, making all the other directions come to a stop. The sole reason being that both Spring Street and River Street ascend hills upon approaching these intersections. How would a motorist know which of the directions has that right of way? By including below these STOP signs a yellow rectangular sign with the words: TRAFFIC FROM LEFT DOES NOT STOP; TRAFFIC FROM RIGHT DOES NOT STOP; and ONCOMING TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP on the appropriate STOP signs. Want an example of what they look like? Go to the intersection of Route 119, Richmond Road, and Upper/Lower Troy Road located at the Fitzwilliam Inn not far away.

Two sum it all up, the proposal I submit is to create a "three of the four ways must stop" traffic flow changes.

The only direction that does not have to stop, at either intersection, is the one that ascends (climbs up) to the meeting point. For the Blair Square location it would be at the top of Spring Street, with all of the other directions having to come to a stop.

For the Tannery Hill location it would be at the top of River Street (Route 202), with all of the other directions having to come to a stop.

To announce the proposed "pesky" intersection changes place a portable "construction zone" billboard on the property of the Winchendon Historical Society announcing the upcoming changes.

Such a change, as proposed, would make it easier (at the Blair Square location) for the Central Street traffic entering Front St and those coming up Spring Street hill, exiting Central Street, to enter because drivers won't have to focus so much on oncoming traffic in BOTH directions before they are able to proceed.

The same would be for School Street a-k-a Route 12 (at the Tannery Hill location). Those drivers would not have to focus so much on the traffic coming from BOTH directions, those coming up River Street hill and Front Street. BTW, so many of the drivers traveling west on Front Street (a-k-a Routes 12 & 202) fail to use their turn signals, or directionals, to indicate if they want to turn left onto River Street or turn right onto School Street. This creates uncertainty with the drivers exiting School Street (with most of them choosing to turn left here), thus sometimes creating a long line of traffic (in front of Town Selectwoman Anderson's home), especially on a weekend day. (It becomes so bad at times that if I wish to exit School Square, after doing business at Fidelity Bank, I will choose to head west on Front Street and take Mason Street to get out and go on my way.)

Very truly yours,
William H. Jarvis