Improvements at Lincoln/North streets intersection will enhance safety, add green space; reducing speed limit townwide discussed

August 27, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer

Planned improvements at the intersection of North and Lincoln streets at Fountain Square and the surrounding area near Hingham Historical Society’s Benjamin Lincoln House and the Old Ordinary will be funded in part by two Massachusetts Department of Transportation grants totaling $250,000. The Society has been a key player in the plan.

This project addresses traffic and pedestrian safety — improving pedestrian connectivity and accessibility — and will feature accessible green spaces within the public right-of-way, “gas lamp”-style streetlights, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons to enhance pedestrian safety, and new sidewalks.

The design calls for modifying the intersection approach from Lincoln Street to North Street to improve safety and sight lines, with left- and right-hand turn lanes; installing additional parking spaces that will also accommodate buses; and removing vehicular traffic from the Lincoln Street spur between the Abraham Lincoln Statue and the Benjamin Lincoln House to enhance safety and provide a large area of green space and a pedestrian walkway, among other improvements.

Safer crossing for pedestrians
Another benefit of this new design is to provide a safer crossing for pedestrians traveling between the Benjamin Lincoln House and Old Ordinary. A bump-out in front of New North Church will provide more green space.

The potential changes were socialized with New North parishioners and other residents living in the area (to bring them into the loop early on),Town Engineer J.R. Frey told the select board this week during a project update.

There’s money in the town budget to pay for the remainder of the project beyond the grants, he said.

‘These changes will benefit the entire downtown area’
Historical Society Executive Director Deirdre Anderson shared her thoughts. “It’s been our privilege to partner with the town on this project,” she said. “Our interest started with the acquisition of the Benjamin Lincoln House – with no safe pedestrian access to the property. These changes will be enormously beneficial to the entire downtown area.”

Upon finalization of the contract with MassDOT, the town engineering department is planning to break ground as early as this fall, with a targeted completion date of Spring 2026.

These changes will also support Rev250 tourism and educational opportunities to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the events that led to the American Revolution.

In other business at the meeting
Frey recommended that additional Hingham streets be added to the list of roadways that were recently posted with 25 miles-per-hour signs.

These include Main Street (Water to North Street), Charles Everett Way, Edgar Walker Court, Manatee Road, Stonegate Lane, Nichols Road, Smith Road, Water Street, Dwiggins Pathe, Franklin Rogers Road, Partridge Road, Volusia Road, Butler Road, Kilby Street (MBTA to Rockland Street), Issac Sprague Drive, John Hazlitt Lane, Chatham Circle, Welaka Road, and Sherwood Road.

Specifying particular streets – including ones experiencing high speeds/cut-through traffic – is recommended rather than implementing a townwide 25 mph speed limit, Frey explained.

However, Chair William Ramsey said he thinks there should be a 25-mph speed limit “across the town,” including collector roads – with the exception of Main Street – including widely traveled High and Cushing Streets “to slow people down.” He feels strongly that any inconvenience is worth it to help avoid accidents.

Accordingly, Ramsey plans to ask the traffic committee, which reports to the board, to consider such a change and make a recommendation.

“Traffic speed can be gauged by the traffic speed trailer [which uses radar to display drivers’ current speed back to them on an LED screen], and we can ask [Traffic Sgt. Jeffrey Kilroy] to do some traffic accident research,” Ramsey said.