Work At Downtown Octopus Intersection 80% Complete

The construction season in the City of New Bedford is rapidly coming to a close, but there are still several projects on the Department of Public Infrastructure's "to do" list.

One of them is wrapping up work at the Downtown "Octopus" intersection.

D-P-I Commissioner Ron Labelle tells WBSM News, the project was always about pedestrian safety.

"We changed the geometry of the intersection. We shortened up the radiuses, made the crosswalks shorter, there will be new traffic signals and much better lighting."

Labelle says new traffic lights have yet to be installed, but he expects the work to finish by mid-November.

The City also removed a pedestrian overpass as part of the changes at the intersection.