Traffic Safety Improvements Completed at Route 139 and Plain Street 7/1/26

The Town of Hanover, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), has completed traffic safety improvements at the intersection of Route 139 and Plain Street to enhance visibility and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.

This intersection has long presented challenges due to limited sight lines, the roadway's incline and decline, and the slight offset between the two sides of Plain Street. Combined with the volume and speed of traffic on Route 139, these conditions can make turning movements difficult.

While the Town continues to pursue long-term improvements along the Route 139 corridor, those projects require considerable planning and funding. In the meantime, we've been working closely with MassDOT to implement practical safety enhancements that can make a difference today.

The improvements include:

• New painted crosswalks.
• A more clearly defined intersection.
• Flexible delineator posts (bollards) to better guide traffic through the intersection.

These enhancements are designed to improve visibility, better define vehicle movements, and help create a safer, more controlled intersection for everyone traveling through the area.

Town staff, MassDOT engineers, and Hanover's public safety departments carefully reviewed several concepts before selecting this design. While these changes won't solve every traffic concern along Route 139, they represent a meaningful step toward improving safety at one of Hanover's most challenging intersections.

Please stay alert and use extra caution as drivers become familiar with the new traffic pattern. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.