Dover Board of Selectmen Defers Intersection Vote, Seeks MassDOT Waiver on Walpole Street Design

DOVER -- May 12, 2026, Dover Board of Selectmen defers vote on $1.1 million intersection overhaul, declares Level 1 drought, and names town a Purple Heart community. The board, meeting by Zoom on Tuesday, May 12, stopped short of formally endorsing the MassDOT-funded redesign of the Center Street, Springdale Avenue, and Walpole Street intersection after member Dave Haviland argued the plan fails to widen Walpole Street, where a single turning vehicle can block the entire approach, "50 percent in every metric in the world is a fail," he said. Chair Robin Hunter said she would pursue a site visit and possible design waiver through state Rep. Josh Tarsky and MassDOT's state traffic engineer; consultant Kevin Dandrade of TEC Incorporated reported the project would cut Center Street delays by 27 to 60 percent but that roadway widening falls outside the grant program's scope. In three unanimous votes, the board declared a Level 1 mild drought limiting outdoor irrigation to one day per week, applicable to private wells under Dover's bylaw, awarded a $311,387 three-year road micro-surface contract to Sealcoating Inc. of Braintree, and proclaimed Dover a Purple Heart town with a ceremony set for May 16 at the American Legion honoring resident Glenn Blackburn.