After several weeks of closure for construction, the “Pool Hall Hill” portion of Bridge Street in Winthrop is open to traffic again — but Town Marshal Ty Sheehan is suggesting that there are times when the one-block stretch might be better off closed, or limited to one-way traffic.
Some work remains to be done on the Bridge Street sidewalk and parking improvement project, but the short, steep block that is one element of the town’s four-way stop is again open to vehicle traffic — and pedestrians have, for the first time, a safe sidewalk on the east side of Bridge Street to use for the climb to Castle Avenue.
The project is also adding sidewalks along the east side of Bridge Street all the way to Bluff Street. It will also add 17 angle-in parking spaces on the east side of Bridge Street between Castle Avenue and Englar Street, and an additional four parallel parking spaces between Englar and Bluff streets. The parking spaces have yet to be completed, although curbs have been constructed.
The Bridge Street improvements have long been a part of the Winthrop in Motion transportation improvement plan, which dates back to 2017.
At last week’s Winthrop Town Council meeting, Sheehan noted that despite increased tourism traffic through the four-way stop, “we have not had a traffic jam all summer” that required police direction to untangle. Closing the one block of bridge street helped streamline traffic flow through the busy intersection, Sheehan said. “I genuinely think it made a difference,” he said.
“The three-way [as opposed to four-way] runs itself,” the marshal added, calling it an “unanticipated benefit” of the construction process.
Public Works Superintendent Jake Gates agreed that the traffic flow has been better this summer, as did council member Seth Miles — whose business, Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon, occupies one corner of the intersection.
The “Pool Hall Hill” portion of the street has been closed at times during the winter because of treacherous driving conditions.
In other business, Mayor Robert Grim noted that an opening remains on the town’s Civil Service Commission, and an opening on the Planning Commission is anticipated in the near future. If interested, contact Town Hall at winthropclerk@townofwinthrop.com or call (509) 996-2320.
Grim also said that painting of the Winthrop Barn is expected to begin this week.
