Traffic Plan Would Move New Britain Avenue, Businesses

Two new plans to relieve Unionville traffic congestion and find a safe way for bike path traffic to cross Route 177 are on the table and will be presented at a public meeting Sept. 21.

Both plans, now being considered by the Unionville Traffic Committee, would widen South Main Street to add a dedicated turn lane from the bridge for cars turning onto New Britain Avenue. The first also reroutes the bike path down Railroad Avenue.

But that plan is limited by the short distance between the New Britain Avenue intersection and the bridge, traffic committee members say.

“The space for cars to be in the left-hand turn lane is limited,” said Town Council member John Vibert, who is also a member of the traffic committee and a Unionville resident. “You stack six, seven, eight cars there and you eventually queue up the cars back to the bridge. That sort of a queue is not unusual in the morning.”

The second plan extends the distance between the New Britain Avenue intersection and the bridge by moving the road to approximately where the tailor shop now stands.

If either plan were approved, the state would buy and demolish Nina's Tailor shop, L.A Styles salon and Liquor Square to make room for the additional lane. To go forward with the second plan, the state would also take down the Air Tools Sales & Service building and cut through residences on Burnham Avenue.

“Southbound traffic impacts the whole center,” Vibert said. “Nothing can move in the center when New Britain Avenue gets back up.

Vibert and Police Chief Paul Melanson, who is also a member of the traffic committee, met individually with property owners who would be affected by the plans. Both say the response has been positive.

But some owners say they are concerned that neither plan will solve the traffic problems and that they will have difficulty relocating.

Pete Ramchadani has owned Liquor Square for five years, along with Valley Wines on Route 6 and another in Plainville. With several liquor stores scattered throughout Farmington, he said other parts of town are saturated.

“I don’t know where in town I would be able to relocate,” he said, adding that he had already put a considerable amount of work into his Unionville store. “It takes a lot to establish a business. People in town know how much I’ve done for the town and to the business and now it would just be torn down.”

LA Styles salon owner Elizabeth Deprey said she’s happy in the small building she owns on Plainville Avenue.

“I understand the issues, that some of the buildings are in the way of traffic and progress. I’m not happy about it but I’m hoping to relocate," she said. "I have a 750 square foot building – where am I going to go?”

The state would pay fair market value, as determined by an appraisal, and state economic development officials would also help affected businesses to relocate.

Farmington Economic Development Director Courtney Hendricson has said she will also do all she can to see the businesses succeed.

“We can help them find a new building if they want to stay in town and we can offer all our resources for a new or expanding business,” she said. Hendricson said she will also help if businesses decide to move out of town. “Obviously our priority is to have them in town but my main goal is to help the business succeed, whether it’s in town or not.”

Vibert noted that while some owners had issues with the plan, all agreed some traffic solution is needed.

Air Tools Sales & Service Owner Nils Lindstedt said he thinks the plan will work well.

“It’s like a drain that’s clogged. If you open the drain, it can flow,” he said.

While Lindstedt loves the location that has housed his business since 1986, he said he would be happy for the state to take a portion of the property and leave him the remainder for a smaller building.

Some businesses that would not be taken by the state also stand to be affected.

Drywall Unlimited, JW Florist and Edward Motor Services, at the end of New Britain Avenue, would no longer have the constant stream of traffic if the second plan were adopted because the current road would be blocked off.

New Horizons representatives say they’re concerned about encouraging bikers to fill the same sidewalks that New Horizons residents use every day. The committee is looking at the issue.

Community members are welcome to attend the informational meeting on Sept. 21 from 7-9 p.m. at the police department.