LONDONDERRY — The state Department of Transportation's plans for improvements along the Exit 5 area don't include a new median strip along that expanding section of Route 28, which deeply concerns the planning board.

Last month, Jay Levine, coordinator supervisor for Interstate 93, and Pete Stamnas, project manager, appeared before the board to share the latest project updates.

Officials noted that work on the Route 28 area was ahead of schedule and would continue throughout the fall.

Levine said the road segment near the highway exit would eventually be widened into two lanes in each direction, with dedicated turn lanes in certain areas, essentially creating an eight-lane road.

The widened road portion will stretch east all the way to the intersection at Symmes Drive once the area's old bridges are removed.

During last month's meeting, board member Mary Wing Soares questioned whether a median strip might be used to help prevent drivers heading westbound from taking a dangerous left turn onto Perkins Road.

Levine said the state currently has no plans to build median strips at the intersections of Perkins or Auburn roads, despite board member Dana Coons' argument that the new, additional lanes might mean added dangers for an area where motorists have already been known to make frequent, illegal turns.

Faced with the board's concerns, Stamnas suggested the town submit their requests in writing for the DOT's consideration.

Discussions on the matter continued at Wednesday night's meeting.

Board member Lynn Wiles wondered if the town's Traffic Safety Commission had been consulted on the matter, while Chairman Arthur Rugg noted they had not.

“I'd like to hear their opinion on this,” Wiles replied.

“Well, I don't need their opinion to know that there needs to be medians there,” board member Chris Davies said. “We've seen too many accidents there as it is.”

Coons said his personal opinion is that a median strip should stretch from Perkins Road all the way to the new gas station near the highway exit, since that's where Route 28 will be widened.

“We can act as an advisory board, but at the end of the day, the DOT is going to do what they want to do,” board member Scott Benson further noted.

Planning and Economic Development Director Andre Garron noted that initial plans for that area of town had included a median strip, but state transportation officials had since decided to remove the median based on abutters' objections.

But board member Maria Newman said she could personally attest to the need for the median as she once was in a bad car accident while attempting to make a left turn onto Perkins Road.

“That area gets very busy during the commute hours,” she said. “I just think its already a very unsafe intersection, so the more that can be done to help, all the better.”

The board overwhelmingly agreed to contact the DOT to express their safety concerns and suggest the state review the situation regarding the need for the median.

AGuilmet@newstote.com