After a $97,000 engineering study by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. of Bedford, a public forum, and much discussion, a final option for the secondary access road to Bedford High School and the middle school was chosen.

At its Monday, Nov. 26, meeting, the School Board approved the Nashua Road/Chestnut Hill option to be presented to voters in March. The Nashua Road option would include a traffic light at Nashua Road at Route 101 as well as a secondary emergency access road on Chestnut Drive off Route 101.

The plan also includes minor improvements at the intersection of Route 101 and Meetinghouse Road, and the widening of an uphill curve on Nashua Road.

School Board member David Sacks said he thinks it’s time to put this to a town vote.

“We’ve given this the test, had a forum, open discussions, and I’ve seen overwhelming support from everyone whose had this conversation with me,” said Sacks. “Let’s put the wheels in motion and get this on the ballot in March.”

School Board member Terry Wolf agreed.

“I can’t imagine there being a better solution unless there was some sort of air pass,” she said jokingly.

Wolf also said the Nashua Road option met the original goals of the project and would help ease traffic as well.

At the Oct. 29 public forum, the Nashua Road option was listed at costing about $3.2 million. This cost does not include any right-of-way acquisition costs. Also as outlined at the public forum, the Nashua Road option could affect seven parcels, two of which require permanent taking of land.

The passing of this option to have the secondary access road voted on in March is contingent on the final costs being accepted by the School Board. In addition approval by the Department of Transportation and the Bedford School District attorney is needed.