Greetings,
] have owned the Marc Plamondon State Farm Agency at 224 Main Street for 20 years. | wanted
to let you know my opinion regarding the barriers placed on Main Street and East Pearl St.
during March-November. It is my understanding that there is an upcoming Board of Alderman
meeting, and that during this meeting there will be discussion and a vote on extending the
barriers for three years.
I can understand and support the reasons why the barriers were put up in 2020 to allow the
restaurants to expand their outdoor seating areas. However, this past year they created many
traffic issues and other problems for downtown businesses. There is very little parking on Main
Street for both the restaurants and other businesses. As a result of the barriers, there is so much
traffic congestion - almost every day between March and November I would sit in traffic through
several light cycles as a result of the four lanes being reduced to two lanes.
l actively avoid Main Street during that period as a result of this. Many of my clients feel the
same way. At the end of the day, it is common for traffic to be gridlocked the entire length of
Main Street from my office (across from City Hall) to Peddler’s Daughter. I’m not sure the
traffic lights were ever adjusted for this as well. It has taken me up to 20 minutes to get from my
office to the top of Main Street when I am headed home at night.
It is a huge safety issue as well, in terms of getting fire trucks and emergency vehicles
through. Luckily, the Main Street area has not had any catastrophic events during this time
period, but if they did, the barriers would greatly impede any progress they would make.
The restaurants that are currently open on Main Street have plenty of sidewalk areas for their
outdoor dining during the summer months. I completely support that. But to continue to place
the barriers on Main Street and surrounding streets (especially for three more years!!), and
reduce the traffic lanes on Main Street would create so much difficulty for the other businesses
as well as for people who work here or would like to shop downtown. Please consider this my
vote as a business owner in downtown Nashua, against placing the barriers on Main Street.
Thank you for your consideration!
Marc H Plamondon
Agent/Owner
Marc H Plamondon Insurance Agency
