Is the traffic light at the West Main Street/School Street intersection in Hopkinton slowing you down? If yes, you’re not the only one.
The traffic light was installed with the hopes of eliminating the back up caused by turning traffic and to make the intersection safe; 24 crashes had taken place at that intersection over the past 5 years.
According to Upton commuters traffic has not been reduced, if anything the back up has gotten worse. Many are having their commute time increase by 20 to 30 minutes. Nancy Wright Burdze of Upton is not a fan of the new set up, “It easily adds an extra 30 minutes to my commute in both the morning and afternoon. I understand the purpose for it, but I think the timing of the light could be modified, or be sensor based, as opposed to time based,” said Burdze.
Residents commuting onto West Main Street from East Street in Hopkinton are frustrated because they can not turn right on red. “Not my favorite, ” said Kristen Yeager Giglio of Upton. “Sometimes in the morning, taking a right where the blue water tower is, the light turns green, but you cannot go, as the line of traffic is to there. Doesn’t seem to help at all,” said Giglio
Andrea Nash Moshier of Upton has found the light helpful crossing over from East Street to School Street. However she is concerned about the light. “I think so many are used to flying up the hill with out the light that I really have to pay attention when crossing. I have seen many running the light as I try to cross. Other than crossing it has definitely mucked up traffic to and from Hopkinton/Upton.”
Traffic has been backed up by Price Chopper too, Nicole Wagner said, “The only difference it has made is a total back up of traffic by Price Chopper, who installs a light where people have to inch their way up a hill in the winter?”
In addition to the light at the West Main Street/School Street intersection the Hopkinton DPW has changed the traffic pattern at the light near Price Chopper on West Main Street at the South Street intersection. Cars in the right lane traveling towards 495 can now go straight or turn right.
UPTON DAILY 
I recently moved and have previously had to commute using this road before (which did get backed up, but NEVER this bad). The new light is absolutely horrendous during commute time!
Rather than sit back and complain about it significantly increasing my commute time, is there a way I can create a petition? Have it be a blinking yellow light during commute times or something. I understand the cost to install was over half a million dollars & understand they would likely not eliminate it completely, but I think it is reasonable during commute times. ESPECIALLY as someone pointed out, going up hill in snow and having to stop? I bet in the upcoming winter there will be about 10 accidents caused from that & though it is not at that intersection it will be because of the light at the intersection. I have seen the traffic backed up so bad that it affects 495 traffic, as people trying to get off the Upton exit are unable to get off because the traffic is backed up. As someone covering these events, have you ever seen the town do something and then have citizens act to have it modified? Is there anything we can do?