MANSFIELD — The once two-way stop intersection at West Third Street and Walnut intersection is now a four-way stop.
Operations supervisor Adam Hill-Warren said the previous two-way stop intersection, with stops on Third Street, is now a four-way stop with the addition of new stop signs on Walnut.
“There used to be a signal about eight years ago,” said Robert Bianchi, Mansfield’s city engineer. “It was removed because a stop light wasn’t warranted.”
Since its removal, Bianchi added there have been vehicular accidents and confusion at the intersection.
“When it was a free-flow intersection (no stopping on W. Third Street) you got a feeling it was not safe,” Bianchi said. “You saw people slow down or come to a complete stop because they had poor vision (of potential oncoming traffic).”
The city conducted a study to see if a four-way stop was warranted, and concluded it was. The new road signs have “new” placards and lights to catch driver’s attention as they approach the intersection.
“We are expecting it to be more safe,” Bianchi added.
The repaving was necessary after a water main broke, lifting sidewalk panels up several inches and breaking up the road. However, Hill-Warren noted the repair and new signs were not part of the same project.
(The water main break) was really bad,” Hill-Warren said.
The street repair kept the intersection closed for about two weeks. At the time, Hill-Warren said water breaks are common in the winter.
The city made the repair over three days.
“It was a pretty quick turnaround,” he said.
