FARMINGTON — A Maine Department of Transportation official told Farmington residents Tuesday night that it would be safer for drivers if part of Wilton Road was changed from four lanes to two with a middle lane for left turning.

Dennis Emidy, regional traffic engineer with DOT, told a crowd of about 30 residents Tuesday night that the state has a history of making similar traffic pattern changes, resulting in successfully lowering the number of accidents on problem roads.

Contributed graphicA graphic shows an example of a four lane road changed to two lanes with a middle lane for two-way left turning and wider shoulders. Farmington is considering a similar traffic pattern for parts of Wilton Road.

“I know a lot of anxiety comes with changes … but the results have shown that putting in a two-way left turning lane results in a safer road,” said Emidy.

The residents and town officials who gathered for a DOT-hosted public meeting on the road changes voiced concerns about whether the change in traffic pattern would clog traffic on the busy road or help reduce accidents.

Selectman Josh Bell requested additional information from Emidy on traffic and crash numbers on Wilton Road, also U.S. Route 2. Town Manager Richard Davis said the town’s transportation advisory committee was divided in its opinion on the changes, though Davis said he urged the selectmen to endorse the proposal. Selectman Michael Fogg said he canvassed different residents to get feedback on the proposed changes and said he didn’t find residents who thought it would be worse after the changes.

“It will not be worse. It could be better,” Fogg said.

The DOT proposal calls for the westbound lane of Wilton Road, heading toward Wilton, to remain two lanes from Oakes Street to where the Dollar Store is being built and to be reduced to one lane with a wider shoulder from the Dollar Store to Walmart.

The eastbound lane, heading toward downtown, will be reduced to one lane with a wider shoulder for the majority of the stretch. A middle lane for two-way left turning would be added between the two lanes.

Emidy presented data from a study of the road by Maine Department of Transportation officials that found that from 2011 to 2013, there were 36 crashes between the hospital and Walmart. There were 122 crashes between Walmart and Bridge Street during the same period. Of those crashes, 59 involved injury.

A list of typical crashes included sideswipes that resulted from frequent and sudden lane changes, rear-end crashes involving vehicles stopped in the inside travel lane and angle crashes caused by crossing the four-lane intersection or turning left.

The study also found a lack of area to pull off the road safely during emergencies or breakdowns, and there was not enough room for cyclists to ride on the side of the road.

Emidy said a federal traffic study showed changing traffic from four lanes to two lanes with a middle left turning lane reduced overall crashes 47 percent.

Resident John Bell asked whether reducing the speed limit would help reduce crashes.

Emidy said that by having one lane, drivers would travel at a more uniform and consistent speed, which helps make roads safer, though he did not have data on what changing the speed limit would do to the road.

Police Chief Jack Peck said it is challenging enough to enforce the current speed limit, and drivers probably wouldn’t obey a slower speed.

“We write tickets fast enough now,” Peck said.

Emidy said the state department projects there would be a slight, several-second delay in traffic with the new pattern.

Emidy said the state is not interested in forcing a project on the town and would wait for the selectmen’s approval before pursuing the changes.

The project would be funded by the state. If the transportation agency goes forward with the project, it could be included in an already-planned $2.9 million construction project the DOT has scheduled for 2016 or 2017.

Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252

kschroeder@centralmaine.com

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