Freeport is trying out a three-way stop at a downtown intersection swarming with pedestrians, cars, trucks and buses.

The eight- to 10-week trial at Main and Bow streets will determine whether the stop signs should be permanent, as well as what other changes might be needed to improve traffic flow. The traffic survey began on Sept. 9, and one of the immediate takeaways was that the narrow lanes did not accommodate buses, Public Safety vehicles and delivery trucks, Freeport Development Director Brett Richardson said during a presentation to the Freeport Town Council on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

“The purpose of this test is not to suggest what that is going to look like, but just to determine if the traffic will flow appropriately,” Richardson said.

The key data points from the traffic study included the number of people making left-hand turns and the number of pedestrians crossing the street, both of which disrupt the flow of traffic on Main Street and cause traffic to back up on Bow Street.

The traffic survey is a part of the Village Corridor Initiative planning partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation, aimed at making downtown Freeport more pedestrian and bike-friendly, while also slowing down traffic. The plan eliminates turning lanes at the intersection in favor of a three-way stop to prioritize the public space, without impacting safety or travel times.

The changes haven’t come without hiccups. Town Manager Sophia Wilson said that on Monday, Sept. 15, a commercial box truck clipped the stop sign at the intersection and knocked it over into a car passing by. However, adjustments were made to prevent that from happening again.

Another incident occurred the previous weekend, when a fire truck was delayed at the intersection because cars weren’t getting out of the way. Afterward, the lanes were widened to accommodate larger vehicles, such as buses, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks.

Next week, the bus stop for tours and public transit located by the L.L. Bean Store on Main Street will be relocated to L.L. Bean’s Boat, Bike, and Ski, if not farther down the street.

“We are not trying to solve every problem; we are trying to narrow our design options,” Richardson said.

After the traffic study and trial period end, the findings will be put into alternative designs for the intersection. Community feedback is submitted through the town’s Economic Development department and will be factored into the ongoing planning.