SALEM — Main Street will share in Tuscan Kitchen’s new look

The restaurant is adding a market, café, bakery and courtyard behind its building on Main Street. Plans to improve the intersection of Pleasant and Main streets as part of the restaurant’s expansion were shown to selectmen on Monday evening.

The most noticeable change will be the addition of a dedicated left-hand turn lane and new signals on Main Street, according to David Jordan of MHF Design. In addition to widening the intersection, a road will be constructed to connect Main Street to North Broadway.

Jordan said he would like to see work started the second week of August and completed in six weeks so the expanded business can open Oct. 1.

Board members didn’t object to the improvements but wanted the majority of the work done at night to prevent inconvenience to commuters.

“That’s just a horrendous intersection at the Depot,” board Chairman Patrick Hargreaves said. “I’m not going to have gridlock in the middle of town.”

Selectman Stephen Campbell agreed that closing the road during the day wasn’t an option.

Town Manager Keith Hickey said the flow of traffic through the intersection during the day makes it difficult to perform road work. He suggested that most of the work be done between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“I think the alternative is not a workable solution and it has to be done at night, at least the lion’s share of it,” Hickey said.

jhanson@newstote.com