July 14, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
Town Engineer J. R. Frey plans to propose to the select board this fall that a roundabout be installed at the Middle/Main/Short Street intersection in Hingham Centre to address longtime serious safety concerns.
In February 2024, the traffic committee reviewed the road safety audit conducted by traffic engineers Vanasse & Associates that identifies potential improvements to help make this intersection safer following numerous crashes and near-misses. No decisions were made at that time. The traffic committee reports to the select board.
A number of alternatives were analyzed during weekday morning, weekday evening, and Saturday midday peak hours, also taking into consideration the many bicyclists who travel through the intersection and that the crosswalks don’t meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The speed at which vehicles travel through this intersection is also a concern.
Both unsignalized and signalized intersection control, as well as a roundabout configuration, were reviewed.
According to the audit, a majority of the crashes have occurred in June, “which may include a high percentage of out-of-town motorists who are typically traveling to the nearby beaches or heading to vacation areas along the coast who are unfamiliar with the local roadways.”
The audit also reports that in addition to unfamiliar drivers, inexperienced drivers may also be a contributing factor: “Many of the drivers using this intersection are young and inexperienced due to Hingham High School being half a mile to the south and this intersection being the main access route to the high school.”
Following further consideration, Frey told the Hingham Anchor recently that “the preferred option at this intersection is a roundabout. We can fit one in without any [land] takings and [such an action] would not require a Town Meeting vote.”
Frey is hoping to present a final design to the select board for their approval in the September timeframe. “We will apply for our first ‘Complete Streets’ construction grant to build that intersection out — most likely in Spring 2026 — if we receive the grant [and the board’s okay].”
Frey explained the components of a successful roundabout — which would in this case feature one approach and one egress lane in each direction:
- slow approach to the roundabout;
- yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk;
- yield to vehicles in the roundabout;
- enter the roundabout when it is safe to do so;
- exit the roundabout to continue travel;
- yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk (there will be a crosswalk at each leg);
- proceed along the route after exiting the roundabout.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration website, roundabouts can:
- improve safety
- promote lower speeds and traffic calming
- reduce conflict points
- lead to improved operational performance
- meet a wide range of traffic conditions because they are versatile in size, shape, and design.
Good plan…put a roundabout at High/Ward/French and speed tables/raised crosswalks in Liberty Pole, Beale Street, Longmeadow and show that the town is serious about controlling unsafe drivers and protecting citizens.
I personally think it is not such a good idea. first I don’t think there is enough real-estate for a rotary, One was put in on 3A in Scituate and it is still not big enough even after it was made bigger . Tractor trailers have a hard time getting around it as they just don’t fit. Go down and look at the approach on 3A or from Old Oken bucket, you will see the curbs ripped up and run over at all of the turns. I believe they have more rea-estate there than you do in Hingham. Just saying.
I LOVE the idea of a roundabout at that intersection, where, for years, many of us have struggled to cross through safely. And, YES, we need to be thoughtful of our younger drivers coming from the HS…If the roundabout can be constructed without any invasion of private property, I wholly support moving ahead!