With its long stretches between stop lights and time of day notwithstanding, Rte. 125 is like a race track. Something has to be done slow down traffic and allow local residents access.

A 4-way stop is as useless as a flashing light. It needs a stop light and has needed it for years. Sadly this is not the only fatality at that intersection to say nothing of the many accidents. We use to come out on 125 from Wildwood a lot and I always hated it. I avoid it whenever possible.

That intersection is in desperate need of a traffic light. There have been many many accidents and to many deaths there. The addition of the turning lane and yellow light has not helped and has even made it worse, since the traffic no longer has to stop for a car to turn. I live around the corner and have little choice other than to exit onto Rt 125 several time each day. I try to make a right onto Rt 125 as often as possible and go down to Gould Road across from the state police station, ( wherer there is a light) rather than trying to cross at Wildwood.

The recent deadly traffic accident in Andover at the intersection of Wildwood Road and Rt 125 was a devastating loss for the family and friends of James and JoAnn Eckels. Many people have called me about this as I was involved in the traffic signals that were put up at the five intersections along the Rt 125 corridor - three were solid 3-way lights and two were flashing. The original push was for solid lights at all five intersections but the MA Dept of Transportation traffic flow study would only allow for three (Hillside, Salem and Stinson). They were trying to balance the local needs against the Rt 125 commuter traffic flow.DOT needs to reconsider the current posted speed (50mph) and/or convert the flashing lights to solid traffic lights at Wildwood and Prospect. I have coordinated with Barry Finegold to make this request to DOT today.

Barbara L'Italien states my views 100%. Many years ago, my neighbor (a Wildwood resident, off of Wildwood Road) was involved in a similar accident that happened to kill the younger brother of one of my best high school friends. He was on a motorcycle, my neighbor in a car. Similar scenario. A young, brilliant and talented scholar snuffed out. My neighbor left to live with knowing he had taken a life. Although it was not "exactly" anybody's fault, the results were "fatal" to both parties.

It's too bad that we're all in such a rush, we can't be completely observant of every circumstance the daily commute presents. Lights help put it into perspective. Let our tax money mean something.

I am all for a working set of lights at this intersection. The northbound side has a hill just before this intersection that makes this intersection very dangerous as you can't see it until you are about 100 yards away which at 50-60 mph is not much. Lowering the speed limit will do little to rectify the problem as many people travel at 60 mph along this road where it's posted as 50 mph and there isn't a safe place for cruisers to monitor traffic in that area.

These two people were two of the finest God hs ever put on this earth. I am sad.