Chief Fred Alden wishes to make residents aware of planned road closures to accommodate trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Trick-or-treating in Ashby will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, and is expected to occur primarily in the center of town on Main Street between Ashby Common and Turnpike Road.
In order to ensure the safety of children and families who will be out that evening, Ashby Police will close Main Street from 5:45 p.m. to about 8:15 p.m. Thursday. Main Street will be closed to all traffic from County Road to the area of the 873 Café. Main Street traffic will be closed to everyone except residents during this time.
During the closure, the following detours will be in place:
- Main Street West Bound – Road closed to through traffic from Main Street at Greenville Rd. The following detour route will be posed with signage: Greenville Road (northbound) to Foster Road (westbound) to Mason Road (southbound) to New Ispwich Road (northbound) to Jones Hill Road (westbound) to Jewett Hill Road (southbound) to West Road to West State Road.
- Main Street East Bound – Road closed to through traffic from Main Street at Erickson Road, though local traffic will be permitted to continue eastbound as far as the 873 Café where the road will be closed to all traffic. The following detour route will be posed with signage: Main Street (eastbound) to Erickson Road (southbound) to Piper Rd (northbound) to Nourse Road (eastbound) to Allen Road (southbound) to Ingerson Road (eastbound) to Nash Road (eastbound) to Main Street.
Vehicles approaching the following intersections will be prohibited from crossing Main Street during the closure:
- Main Street at County Road
- Main Street at Turnpike Road
- Main Street at New Ipswich Road
- Main Street at South Road
- Main Street at 873 Café (873 Main St.)
During the road closure the police station, Town Hall, elementary school and 873 Café will be accessible by following the detour and arriving from the west. Parking will be available in the public areas around the police station, Town Hall and school. The Library and Ashby Market will be accessible from South Road during the closure.
Those planning to come downtown for trick-or-treating are encouraged to arrive early to ensure minimal inconvenience.
“We want to thank residents and commuters in advance for their patience during these road closures,” Chief Alden said. “Our top priority is ensuring the safety of children, parents and everyone else who will be out enjoying the Halloween festivities.”
The Ashby Police Department also wishes to share the following Halloween safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Make sure any costume swords, knives and other accessories are soft, flexible and short to prevent injury.
- Children should never trick-or-treat alone. Instead, it is recommended children trick-or-treat in groups and/or with an adult.
- Place reflective tape on costumes and bags to ensure motorists can see you while driving at night.
- Parents and guardians need to closely inspect all candy and treats children bring home to make sure they have not been tampered with and are not a chocking hazard.
- Do not eat homemade candy or treats made by someone you do not know. Only eat factory-wrapped candies and treats.
- It’s recommended parents and guardians limit the amount of candy children eat in a single sitting.
- Those going trick-or-treating are encouraged to bring a flashlight.
- Children should walk from house to house, not run.
- Those wearing costumes that involve make-up should test the product on a small area of skin before applying it more heavily. Make-up should be removed prior to bedtime to ward off skin and eye irritation.
- Children and adults alike should look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks when able. People should use sidewalks when they can, and stay to the far edge of the road in areas where there is no sidewalk.
- The CDC recommends people reduce the risk of injury posed by wearing decorative contact lenses.
- Make sure all masks, costumes and shoes fit properly to prevent impaired vision, trips and falls.
- Children should only visit houses that are well lit.
- Do not accept a ride from a stranger.
- Make sure costumes are flame-resistant, and do not walk near candles or luminaries.
For more safety tips and recommendations, click here.
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