Residents are urging the Common Council to request a delay from the state Department of Transportation on removing Route 9 traffic signals, citing negative economic and environmental impacts. During a presentation to residents on April 30, DOT project manager Stephen Hall told residents that the traffic lights were causing a “significantly higher” number of traffic accidents compared to other parts of the highway. Hall said there had been 500 crashes and 161 injuries over the last three years, the equivalent of a crash every other day and an injury once every week. The project is estimated to cost $143 million, with 80% covered by the federal government and 20% covered by the state. If the design is approved by the end of this year, construction could begin as early as 2027 and would take approximately four years. Residents were particularly concerned about a proposed exit from Route 9 northbound leading to a three-leg roundabout on River Road.