Traffic island narrows street

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A new traffic island on Center Street is home to a new power line. The town constructed the island recently in order to provide electricity for a new elevator at Prospect Congregational Church.- RA ARCHIVE
A new traffic island on Center Street is home to a new power line. The town constructed the island recently in order to provide electricity for a new elevator at Prospect Congregational Church.- RA ARCHIVE

PROSPECT — Drivers will need to take extra caution when traveling onto Center Street because the road is not as wide as it used to be.

The town recently added a new traffic island to the stretch of road near the Prospect Senior Center and the Resident State Trooper’s Office to power a new elevator at Prospect Congregational Church.

The island shaves about 7 feet in width off the road — from about 37 feet to 30 feet — but Center Street still meets the town’s standards.

Mayor Robert Chatfield said the church is installing the elevator on the left side of the building and the proposed tower for the structure was too close to the power lines on New Haven Road.

Originally, electricity ran along New Haven Road to the Mobil gas station, stretched over the church and ran down Center Street to the police station. Those lines have been disconnected.

The power now runs from Lombard Drive, which intersects with New Haven Road, directly up the other end of Center Street.

“The power still runs the same, but now in the opposite direction,” Chatfield said.

Chatfield said the new island will be planted with flowers and small trees that won’t grow to reach the power lines. The area to the right of the island, the location of the old fire department headquarters, will serve as additional parking for events in the area.

The island’s curbing was painted white to be more visible to drivers.