BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Two Bridgewater town councilors have proposed building an underground pedestrian tunnel near the Bridgewater State University campus.
Councilors William Wood and Matthew Rushton introduced the proposed legislation during Tuesday evening’s Town Council meeting. The proposal calls for building a pedestrian tunnel underneath Plymouth Street. Every day, hundreds of students cross the busy road, which separates the university’s commuter parking lot and the rest of the campus.
For pedestrians, crossing the road in the dark or during bad weather can be hazardous. For drivers, the frequent crossing of pedestrians can jam up traffic on Plymouth Street and surrounding roads.
“Pedestrians and drivers alike have become increasingly distracted resulting in several near misses and accidents over the years because of congestion at the Plymouth Street crossing,” the proposed legislation reads. “Several times during the day, traffic can back up almost a mile in multiple directions due to the volume of traffic and pedestrians.”
The councilors said an underground proposal would be a win-win – enhancing pedestrian safety while eliminating traffic delays for drivers.
Boston 25 News reached out to Bridgewater State University and Bridgewater State University Police Chief David Tillinghast for comment.