Civilian flaggers in Somerville

On May 5, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff

By William Tauro

Civilian
road detail flaggman Bill Osborn positioned at the foot of the Cedar
Street bridge directing traffic while road crews work ahead.

Osborn
is employed by New England Control of Manchester, New Hampshire. Osborn
said that "his company is hired as a subcontractor for New Hampshire
Boring Company who is doing work on the Somerville bridge in front of
270 Cedar Street who are based out of Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Osborn
is one of the first civilian flaggmen to work a detail in Somerville,
he stands alone at one side at the foot of the bridge while
communicating with his partner, another civilian flagger who is
completely out of sight at the other side of the bridge.

While
our news correspondent was on scene, Osborn nearly got struck by a motor
vehicle that failed to stop for him because his sign was facing in the
wrong direction and another time as an unexpected motor vehicle was
traveling over the bridge under his partner's direction without Osborn
being aware, almost caused a two car collision.

Flaggers have
come under much opposition in the Bay State since the idea of hiring
civilian flaggers was first proposed instead of hiring a police officer
detail.

Osborn said that "he would rather be called a Traffic Control Personel than a flaggman!"