Permanent Traffic Island Up On Elmwood

Out with the orange barrels.

In with the granite island.

A traffic island at the intersection of Elmwood and Paradise is now a permanent feature after crews built the 12-foot by 4-foot island, DPW Director Gino Cresta said.

The town recommended the permanent island to selectmen in June and the board approved it.

That was after a test median — traffic barrels — proved effective at keeping traffic in line.

Elmwood residents told the committee members that the temporary median had slowed traffic entering Elmwood from Paradise and funneled vehicles into the proper lane.

Before the barrels went up, vehicles routinely swerved into the opposing lane when entering Elmwood from Paradise, especially from the Lynn-bound direction.

The Public Works director drives from Paradise to Elmwood every day and says the island does its job.

Selectmen also restricted parking on both sides of Elmwood for the last 30 feet at the Paradise end and to keep traffic two-way.

Budget dollars paid for the island project, estimated last summer at $5,000. Cresta estimated the town would save $5,000 by doing the work in-house.

The island doubles as a planter.

If a resident wants to plant flowers in it next spring they can get information about the town's adopt-an-island program by calling the DPW at 781-596-8860