Above: Construction work is taking place this week for flashing beacons to be installed (or replaced) at crosswalks around town this spring. (images edited from Town GIS Maps & Google maps)
Starting today, expect some traffic disruptions for construction at four crosswalks in town. A notice from Southborough’s Dept of Public Works notifies about work taking place downtown, followed by work on Richards Road this week.
I spoke with the DPW Superintendent to clarify some of the details.
The project is to prepare for installing new, solar-powered flashing beacons at the crosswalks this spring.
The DPW notice includes:
RRFB Installation – Update #1
The Department of Public Works would like to inform residents of upcoming roadway work associated with the installation of pedestrian crossing enhancements (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons – RRFBs) at several locations in town.
RRFBs are pedestrian-activated flashing lights installed at crosswalks. When a pedestrian pushes the button, the lights flash rapidly to alert approaching drivers to yield, improving visibility and safety at crossings.
Work is anticipated to begin on Monday, March 30, 2026 or Tuesday, March 31, 2026, weather permitting, and is expected to follow this general schedule:
- 2 Main Street(Mauro’s Café) – Installation of foundation, curb, and concrete
- 48 Main St (Fay School)– Installation of curb and RRFB foundation, followed by concrete work
- 28 Cordaville Rd (Woodward School)– Installation of RRFB foundation and concrete work
- Richards Rd at Killam Farm Ln– Final phase of work (approx. four days)
The first three locations are expected to take approximately one week to complete. . .
This work is part of the Town’s ongoing effort to improve pedestrian safety, including upgrades to crosswalks, curb ramps, and installation of solar-powered RRFB systems .
During construction, residents should expect:
- Temporary lane shifts and minor traffic delays
- Construction equipment and crews working within the roadway
- Possible short-term sidewalk or shoulder impacts near work zones
Police details and appropriate traffic control measures will be in place to minimize disruption and maintain safety.
We appreciate your patience as we complete these important safety improvements. If you have any questions, please contact the DPW office.
The beacons are being provided by the state. Although they are free to the Town, the projects required the Town to first invest in upgrades at the crosswalk sites to bring them up to state standards for the project.
Readers may be aware that the location at Fay School already has a flashing beacon. DPW Superintendent Bill Cundiff explained that the existing beacon often breaks down, requiring the Town to contract repair work. Plus, the electricity costs for the beacon are currently funded by the Town. The new, solar powered beacon should save the Town money by addressing both issues.
The DPW’s notice about the work included what may be an overly optimistic statement, “Once foundations are installed, RRFB units will be installed the following week.” Cundiff told me that the language of the notice came from the contractor doing the crosswalk upgrades.
He is working on scheduling with the state when they will provide the beacons. Those should come in a week or so. His crew will do the installations. He couldn’t say precisely when, but that will be this spring.
(They have 90 days to complete the work once received. But I assume they’ll be installed much sooner than that.)
In an update to the Select Board last summer, the list of beacon locations that Cundiff said he was also applying for included the other crosswalk to Woodward School (on Main Street) and a crosswalk for St. Mark’s School.
He noted that if the awards came through, they would only do the work at the private schools crosswalks if the schools agreed to pay for the installations.
For a better look at the planned locations, see my marked up maps below:
