Dozens of Padanaram residents turned up to learn about the latest of many construction projects to occur near Bridge Street.

On March 24, Department of Public Works Director David Hickox updated residents on the transformation of Elm Street into a one-way street, as well as the status of the pending causeway and bridge repair projects.

Architectural plans for each possibility were provided for residents to view prior to the meeting.

The most controversial portion of the project revolved around whether to make Elm Street south of Bridge Street into a one-way street. As it is now, cars parked along the sidewalks must pull up onto the curbs to give space for two-way traffic.

In May 2015, a group of civil engineering students from Northeastern University presented plans for a major overhaul to Padanaram. Their recommendation, according to Hickox, was to convert Elm Street to accommodate one-way traffic, and to also make Water Street north one way as well.

Part of the project includes expanding sidewalks, making them ADA accessible and installing bump outs at intersections. Bump outs, which are built upon existing sidewalks, usually at intersections, would eliminate parking spaces at intersections. This would serve to increase pedestrian safety and visibility, as well as increase "visual safety for cars at intersections," Hickox said. They would also shorten the length of the crosswalks by 8 feet.

If a two-way street were to be maintained, pavement to widen the sidewalks would encroach near the property lines.

Town officials are looking to create a "complete street" to generate more funding for the project. Complete streets are streets that can be safely utilized by motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. A complete street would generate an extra $400,000 per year, according to Hickox. The current plans do have some complete street criteria incorporated.

Lowering the road to achieve appropriate curb height after years of pavement layering was another aspect of the construction project.

Though Pathways Committee Chair Alan Heureux, a long-time resident of Padanaram, supported the one-way option, most other residents were opposed to the extra traffic it would bring to the largely residential side streets off of Elm Street.

Padanaram resident Kristin Marshall brought attention to the fact that there was no planned increase in parking.

Hickox said the town planned on coordinating bridge repairs while the causeway is shut down to lessen the impact on drivers and residents.

On March 21, Hickox updated the Select Board on the causeway repair project which raked in bids ranging from $8.2 million to $12.6 million. Even the lowest bid was $2.2 million above budget. Because the project has been stalled, there are concerns that money earmarked for the bridge construction will be reallocated to the causeway, leaving a “partially funded bridge,” Hickox said.