Pedestrians and drivers traveling Haverhill’s upper Main Street near Fifth Avenue will see the addition of a new solar-powered, flashing beacon aimed at improving safety and visibility at one of the city’s most dangerous intersections, Mayor James J. Fiorentini’s office said Thursday.
Following a series of pedestrian accidents and a fatality in the area, Fiorentini commissioned what he called an “in-depth” traffic study to investigate the intersection and improve safety measures. In May 2018, Haverhill resident Dennis Tuttle was killed while crossing Main Street near 18th Avenue. Four months later, an 18- and 24-year-old were struck at Main Street and Fifth Avenue within 10 minutes of each other.
The new $18,000 safety device, called a Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon, came at the recommendation of the Traffic and Safety Committee and was paid for with reserve funds, Fiorentini said. The beacons are said to elicit a greater response from drivers due to their stutter flash and are a lower cost alternative to traditional traffic signals.
A second unit has been placed at the intersection of Water Street and Bethany Avenue near Central Plaza.