In an effort to improve traffic flow and reduce confusion in the North Windham Shopping Center parking lot, owner Ken Ray has hired L.W. Grubb Construction to rearrange and upgrade traffic islands and improve the parking areas at the popular shopping center.

Ray, who has owned the center since 1999 has been working steadily over the past few years to improve the shopping center’s septic system, much of which is located underneath the current parking lot. With the septic complete, Ray is now turning his attention to the confusing and seemingly haphazard parking area.

“We’re just trying to make it more efficient and flow better. There are too many ways to go through the parking lot. We’re trying to organize it more,” Ray said. “The parking lot has been an issue since day one and I wanted to take care of the septic issues before tackling the parking lot. Now that that part is done, it’s time to make the lot neat and orderly and clear for motorists.”

According to Ray, the lot will have narrower travel lanes and more parking spaces. Rather than having scattered parking areas, vehicles will park in three sections extending about 100 yards from in front of the post office to the Cingular Wireless building near Route 302.

Two-lane, 32-foot-wide travel lanes will wrap around the main parking lot from Pet Quarters up to The Odd Shop, over to Goodwill and down toward Clark Associates. One more travel lane will complete the loop passing by the Cingular Wireless building connecting to the other portion of the Windham Shopping Center including Sears and Blockbuster.

In addition to the parking changes, pedestrians and drivers will notice new painted crosswalks, new shrubs and trees planted in several new islands and two inches of fresh pavement set to be laid down by Pike Industries in mid-October. Ray said he is installing longer-lasting concrete curbing, rather than the previously installed bituminous curbing, to improve appearance and longevity of the curbing and islands.

Businesses react

Business owners in the area are encouraged to see the parking lot is being improved both aesthetically and functionally.

Jane Chipman-Noonan, owner of Quest Travel, located next to the North Windham Post Office, is looking forward to the reconstruction’s completion.

“We’re looking forward to less confusion, more efficiency, and hopefully people will stop parking in front of the post office,” Chipman-Noonan said. “That blocks our business. The redesign should be great for businesses here. It will it a lot easier for people accessing these businesses.”

Paul Cobb, supervisor at the post office, is also looking forward to the new parking arrangement. Ray has told the post office that there will be two handicapped parking spots in front making it easier for handicapped people to access the building. Ray has also promised Cobb better signs indicating the “no parking zone” in front of the post office.

“Honestly, I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents out here with how chaotic the parking lot and the travel lane right in front of us are,” Cobb said. “I think the new parking design will alleviate a lot of that.”

Jen Raymond, manager of The Odd Shop, is also looking forward to the end of construction. “Traffic flow is just so screwed up. I think it’s an attempt to make traffic flow less congested.”

Kermit Beaulieu, manager at U.S. Cellular, says the parking lot is currently a “deathtrap” and he, too, looks forward to the upgrade.

“I’m only here two days a week, and I’ve seen at least a half-dozen accidents out front here. You almost need someone to flag you out of your parking space to not get in an accident. It definitely needs a redesign. I’m glad they’re doing something about it,” Beaulieu said.

Supervisor Bill Grubb, operating front-end loader, and laborers Paul Liotard and Bryan Pelletier of L.W. Grubb Construction lay concrete curbing at the North Windham Shopping Center this week. The overhaul of the busy lot will continue for the next few weeks.