Data Collected at 7th & Walnut in April/May 2023

The Town of Windsor worked with engineering consultants from Wilson & Company from April 24 through May 12 to set up a temporary closure of the southbound turn lane on 7th Street at the Walnut St. intersection. The goal of the closure was to collect data and evaluate if closing the turn lane could have a positive impact on vehicular and pedestrian safety. If data showed the intersection could be made more safe, a future improvement to the intersection could include permanently closing the 7th St. southbound left turn lane at Walnut St.

Data collected in September 2022 at 7th/Walnut displaced about 65 (a.m.) / 112 (p.m.) vehicles that had been using the southbound left turn. Data collected in April/May 2023 showed the following:

• Approximately 40 (a.m.)/130 (p.m.) vehicles stayed on 7th and continued southbound.
  • More specifically, there was a +25 (a.m.)/+95 (p.m.) increase southbound lefthand turns at 7th & Elm.
  • There was also a +14 (a.m.)/+36 (p.m.) increase in southbound lefthand turns at 7th & Locust.
• The data showed a minor variability at 6th & Walnut, with perhaps a small morning diversion to this intersection from Main St.
• The queue data at 7th and Main did not show any discernable increase for eastbound or southbound that can be attributed to the temporary left-turn closure.

Although the data submitted to the Town of Windsor did not include a formal conclusion, at the time of this post, town engineers believe the data does not support permanently closing the left-hand turn lane.