Bedford resident Gus Garceau says his proposed amendment to Warrant Article 2 will solve the school emergency access issue and save taxpayer money.

Garceau said he will present his amendment at the Tuesday, Feb. 5, deliberative session of the School District Meeting, when voters will be asked to approve or amend Article 2, which asks for $170,000 to pay for a secondary emergency access road along Chestnut Drive to the middle/ high school.

The School Board is asking voters to approve $170,000 for the access road, at an estimated tax impact of 5 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation. The total project will cost $445,00, of which $275,000 is reserved in the school district’s land fund.

Garceau said his amendment provides alternatives to the town’s proposal to fix the Nashua Road/Route 101 intersection, as well as an alternative to secondary emergency access to the middle/high school.

Garceau’s cost estimate for his project is about $1.3 million, saving taxpayers about $1.7 million over the Town Council’s estimate of $3 million for its proposed changes to Route 101 at Nashua Road, and school dsitrict’s plan for the Chestnut Drive emergency road.

The amendment will eliminate left-hand turns from Nashua Road and Bell Hill Road, but will still allow right-hand turns.

“This will allow traffic to flow freely through that part of Route 101,” said Garceau. “It will also be safer and provide better traffic flow from Meetinghouse Road to Wallace Road on Route 101.”

Garceau is also proposing the use of barriers on Nashua Road and Bell Hill Road to prevent left-hand turns. He is also suggesting short approaches to both roads so traffic turning right on each road will have a chance to slow down, while signs would warn traffic about the prohibited turns.

His proposal also calls for the district to build a secondary access road to the middle/high school on the existing townowned County Road off Wallace Road. The road is currently a non-thoroughfare, dirt road.

Garceau proposes a gated two-lane access road on the existing Country Road right of way from its intersection with Wallace Road to the school’s lower parking lot.

“This road could be available for cars and buses during the morning and late afternoon if a traffic control officer directed traffic at County Road and Wallace Road,” he said.

At all other times, the gate would be closed except for an emergency at the middle/high school.

“I believe there is a way to do what the town and school district are trying to do for less money and I think this is a great option,” said Garceau. “There is no reason for the town to pay for improvements to a state road.”

Whichever is approved – Article 2 or Garceau’s amendment – by those attending the deliberative session, goes on the March 11 ballot.

The School District deliberative session takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m., at Bedford High School.