Weston committee advances two Route 117 intersection redesigns to Select Board

WESTON -- January 23, 2025, Weston Traffic and Sidewalk Committee advances two Route 117 redesigns despite roundabout pushback. The committee voted unanimously Jan. 23 to recommend conceptual designs at Route 117/Merriam-Lincoln and Route 117/Viles to the Select Board, with refinements covering truck-apron materials, MassDOT's rectangular-rapid-flashing-beacon limits at 40-mph-plus roads, and approach-speed traffic calming. Chair Jay Walsh said staged improvements over six years had already made Merriam safer; resident Kristen Barbieri, involved since 2019, called the redesign "absolutely not a waste of money" that "is going to save lives." Resident Peter, a former committee chair, objected that median islands "do nothing, zero" and urged roundabouts. Staff also reported the Route 20/Wellesley signalization project is at 100 percent design at MassDOT, with construction bids targeted for late 2025 or early 2026, and the new town-wide Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan from BETA Group is targeted for completion in October 2025.