Lincoln Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Project Overview

The Town of Andover is committed to enhancing pedestrian safety and connectivity throughout the community. Lincoln Street, an approximately half-mile roadway stretching from Shawsheen Road to Lowell Street, is a key route for students traveling to and from Andover High School and West Middle School. Improving pedestrian safety on this roadway has been identified as a priority in several town-wide planning initiatives, including the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan and the Sidewalk Inventory and Pedestrian Master Plan.

Pilot Project

In 2024, the Town conducted a five-week trial project to evaluate the feasibility of creating a shared-use path on Lincoln Street. This trial, which ran from August 19 to September 22, involved temporarily converting Lincoln Street to one-way southbound traffic. The goal was to assess the impact on traffic flow and pedestrian safety, as well as gather community feedback. Additional information on data and community input received during the trial period is available in the documents listed under "other resources."

Updated Plan

Based on pilot findings and community input, the Town decided not to pursue a permanent shared-use path or one-way configuration. Instead, the updated plan calls for constructing a 5-foot sidewalk on the west side of Lincoln Street between Lowell Street and Marilyn Road, maintaining two-way traffic. The design also includes new curbing on both sides to improve drainage, a crosswalk at Lincoln and Marilyn, and a temporary rubber speed cushion to slow traffic near the crosswalk, with the potential for a permanent speed table in 2026.

Current Status (October 2025)

Installation of the new sidewalk on Lincoln Street was completed in October 2025.