City to Close Streets Near Hunking School Due to Traffic Concerns

Officials "break ground" at Hunking School ceremony Tuesday.

Officials “break ground” at Hunking School ceremony.

Temporary closures to Revere and Winchester streets at the Hunking School access road will be in place at least until the end of 2017 during the new school construction project.

Haverhill city councilors unanimously passed a request by public schools Superintendent James F. Scully to place posts and chains at the Hunking end of the two streets due to safety concerns with higher than anticipated traffic on the non-public way. Scully told councilors with site clearing and construction vehicles, the area has become “in a sense, Pines Speedway.”

“We’ve had numerous close calls with construction vehicles and children walking. We’ve put up storm fences, the construction company has put up signs, 15 miles per hour, but it’s a continuous problem,” Scully said.

Under a plan supported by police Chief Alan R. DeNaro and the council’s traffic and safety committee, only the Winchester Street end would be open for school bus and parental traffic from 8:15 to 8:40 a.m. and from 2:15 to 2:40 p.m.