Washington Street
I’m thrilled that the town of Ipswich is taking cyclists into consideration in planning for the reconstruction of Washington Street, which is a safer cycling route than risking my life on Central and upper High Streets. One of the older established ways in town, it may have started as a footpath for Native Americans long before John Winthrop and the first settlers arrived. Depot Square and Washington St. in the early 1800′s were called Gravel Street, taking a right on what is now Liberty Street and crossing Farley Brook to High Street. That area would be filled in 1870 to create Central Street, and Washington Street was extended to Linebrook Road, accounting for their preponderance of Victorian-era homes.
At the other end of Washington Street where a railway has bisected the road since 1840, a broad swath of pavement suggests a lack of aesthetic insight despite serving as an unofficial bypass and gateway to our historic downtown. Planting a line of trees here and restoring the small triangular park along the tracks would soften the stark appearance of the intersection.
As I walked along the street today it was obvious from the cracked surface, potholes and crumbling edges that repaving is overdue. Despite the cold weather, several people walking to DJ’s Variety or working in their yards were happy to stop and chat. Most wanted the sidewalks rebuilt without removal of the existing trees, but no one expressed an objection to the elimination of most on-street parking. Some were concerned that narrowing the roadway to slow down traffic would make the roadway too tight. Marking a modest paved shoulder on the right for cyclists would alleviate this problem.
Near the commuter rail crossing there is ample room for a proper bicycle lane as well as parking for DJ’s. Where the road narrows at Liberty Street the bike route could turn and continue to Lords Square. A safer crossing there would accommodate pedestrians and cyclists heading toward upper High Street, which the state intends to rebuild with a bicycle lane after reconstructing the bridge. From Liberty Street to Linebrook Road a slightly narrower striped shoulder and curbing to prevent parking would still offer increased safety whether in a car or on a bike.
Such a decision requires community input and need not create a confrontation between residents, drivers and cyclists. Some people will complain about the narrower roadway and lower speed limit, but homeowners I spoke with say they have lived long enough with speeding cars and buckled sidewalks. Visitors will see a gracefully preserved neighborhood that compliments the historic character of our town. The community will have a safer way to walk and cycle to stores, schools and Bialek Park without the extra expense of creating separate dedicated bike paths.
View the author’s proposal for marked cycling lanes as well as photos of some of the worst and best roads for cycling in Ipswich at http://bikenewengland.com/ipswich_roads.html .
