By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Cottage Street has a smooth, new look these days, including a traffic signal aimed at improving the flow for motorists getting off at the Cottage Street exit from I-95.

According to Planning Director Michael Cassidy, all of Cottage Street had antiquated water pipes replaced and new sidewalks installed, along with re-paving and other improvements. Since the work was being done, a decision was also made to add a traffic signal to improve safety at the location of the I-95 off ramp.
Cassidy and Traffic Engineer Michael Burns said the spot had been the scene of several accidents and sometimes posed a safety concern, as vehicles would back up on the off-ramp when traffic was heavy.
The signal device should allow for a better flow of motorists as they exit I-95 and head onto Cottage Street.
Cassidy said the traffic signal will be activated by a looping system built into the asphalt that measures traffic flow, rather than being linked to a timing device. This will allow the signal to facilitate traffic flow during peak travel times. It also allows for safer pedestrian crossing at the busy intersection.
While the traffic signal had been installed several months ago, it was just activated last week by the state Department of Transportation.
Cassidy said that the city funded the improvements through a combination of Community Development Block Grants, which paid for the sidewalks, and a street improvement bond that was used for the repaving and the traffic signal purchase. “It was all city money,” he stated.