CHELMSFORD — Behind the houses on Cathy Road lies a small pond, the place turtles hatch their younger within the hotter months and journey throughout to different our bodies of water in Chelmsford.
But pedestrians and automobiles generally pose a threat to their security. Earlier this summer season, a turtle was hit on that very street, sparking no less than one resident to request the Department of Public Works set up turtle crossing indicators there.
Shortly after two indicators had been put up earlier this month, going through completely different sides of visitors, one other Cathy Road resident complained that the signal “devalued her property” and needed it faraway from the entrance of her dwelling, stated Town Manager Paul Cohen.
The signal was taken down on Aug. 19, almost as quickly because it went up. The different signal continues to be there, throughout the road, however it may not be there for lengthy.
While the grievance did play a task in eradicating the one signal, Cohen stated, in reevaluating its placement, the city realized “there was no overall basis” as to why the indicators needs to be there within the first place.
Turtles migrate to put their eggs within the spring and early summer season, which means turtle crossing indicators are solely related for a number of months out of the yr, Cohen stated. Now, the city is assessing the place — if wherever — they need to be inserting such indicators and whether or not they simply print momentary indicators across the late spring and summertime.
“There’s no doubt that there’s a turtle habitat in that area, but the bigger question is, how do we handle all turtles in town?” Cohen stated. “Obviously, we’ve got a very large town, and the question becomes, where do we place them?”
Animal Control Officer Mark Cianci stated turtles are often noticed close to the UPS on Brick Kiln Road, on Dunstable Road near the Lowell Sportsmen’s Club, in addition to on Mill Road and Boston Road close to the Chelmsford Water District. It’s vital to tell the group of a preferred crossing path, he stated, however some residents could not just like the look of it.
“If, in the area, the resident feels that the sign out front of their house is an eyesore, I can understand maybe asking (the town) to move it maybe to the edge of their property line or something or a little further down,” he stated. “But to remove it altogether doesn’t really make sense.”
Unlike deer and coyotes — which may pop up virtually wherever in Chelmsford — Cianci stated there are extra particular locations turtles could seem, which might encourage the necessity for signage. Cianci added that animal management isn’t included in selections on putting in these indicators.
“If there’s a common turtle crossing where, every year at the same time, you get a number of turtles struck and the town decides, ‘Yeah, we should put a sign up just to warn people to slow down, keep an eye out to limit the amount of turtles that are struck,’ it’s always a good idea,” he stated. “I don’t know why someone would complain and have one taken down.”
Before the DPW locations any everlasting signage on the town, Cohen stated the Safety Committee sometimes appears to be like at resident requests for “caution” or “speed advisory” indicators, however this request went on to public works. While the request itself was seemingly permitted pretty rapidly, Cohen stated it most likely took a number of weeks to truly construct and obtain the signal, as a result of it’s not a typical one.
“We don’t have a closet full of turtle crossing signs,” he stated.
Several residents took to the Chelmsford News Facebook group to share their dismay in regards to the removing of the signal. Many acknowledged the indicators efficiently decelerate drivers and make their neighborhoods safer consequently.
One particular person shared in a remark that they as soon as had a turtle crossing signal on their garden however “kids used to steal it all the time.”
That’s one more reason why the city could put off everlasting signage, Cohen stated.
“The other issue we have with those signs is they frequently get stolen because of their novelty,” he stated. “That’s part of the equation as well.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”