ROCHESTER — The intersection of Mary’s Pond and Walnut Plain roads, the site of many collisions over the years, will receive safety improvements thanks to a $50,000 grant provided by the Department of Transportation and the Baker-Polito administration, State Rep. Rep. Bill Straus, D-Mattapoisett and House co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, has announced.

The state money will allow Rochester to install LED stop signs at three intersections that have seen a high number of traffic incidents in recent years. LED lighting of the stop signs would be radar-activated by the approach of motor vehicles.

A final determination on the other two intersections that will benefit from the $50,000 funding has yet to be made. Input will be sought from Police Chief Robert Small and Highway Surveyor Jeffrey Eldridge.

Specific items to be purchased with the grant funds include: eight solar-powered radar speed monitor signs; five LED stop signs; 13 sign posts; and a OS-350MX radar speed trailer with matrix messaging, data logger, and license plate recognition capabilities.

The town applied for the grant, which was made under the DOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program funded by the legislature. Town officials had sought Straus’ help in getting approval for the grant application. 

“I am hopeful that these installations will heighten driver awareness and force drivers to check their speed and comply with traffic markings,” Straus said. “State funding for public safety improvements is an important way in which the state can support municipalities, and I want to thank the administration and in particular Lieutenant Governor Polito for her direct involvement in bringing this grant to Rochester.”

Because of the accidents reported at the particular locations to be addressed, MassDOT will also be providing technical assistance to the town to determine whether further four-way stop signs are also needed.