As the prolonged restrictions on Norfolk's Park Street bridge continue, concerns about the impact of the detour, including motorists driving the wrong way across the one-way bridge, have prompted questions from residents about traffic enforcement and whether temporary signals could allow vehicles to alternate across the span.

The bridge, which crosses over the MBTA commuter rail tracks at the northern end of Park Street, is currently restricted to one-way traffic because of its condition. The restriction has redirected traffic onto surrounding roads and neighborhoods, adding travel time for motorists who previously relied on the route.

State Rep. Marcus Vaughn recently addressed concerns about drivers failing to follow the established traffic pattern in a Facebook post. According to Vaughn, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has reviewed the signs in place around the detour, which include both portable message boards and permanent signs.

Vaughn said MassDOT has been monitoring traffic and believes many motorists traveling contrary to the detour are doing so knowingly rather than because they are unaware of the restriction. As a result, the agency does not believe that simply adding more message boards would necessarily solve the problem. MassDOT, said Vaughn, has communicated its concerns to the Norfolk Police Department because enforcement falls to local police.

Norfolk Police Chief James Barrett said complaints have actually decreased over the past year, which he attributed to proactive enforcement by officers during routine patrols and motorists becoming accustomed to the closure.

"All NPD officers enforce traffic laws, including, but not limited to one-way streets and unauthorized access due to road closures," Barrett said in a response provided by the department.

Police reported no motor vehicle crashes caused by motorists traveling the wrong way at the Park Street Bridge during the past 12 months.

Some residents have questioned whether temporary traffic signals could be installed at either end of the bridge, allowing vehicles to cross one direction at a time rather than maintaining the current one-way configuration.

MassDOT spokesman John Goggin said the agency established the current traffic pattern with safety in mind.

"To prioritize driver safety, MassDOT configured the bridge as one-way to reflect the prevailing direction of travel across the bridge, which also minimizes potential vehicle conflicts at the intersection of Park Street and Main Street," Goggin said. He added that maintaining the existing configuration reduces the potential for confusion among drivers who have become accustomed to the traffic pattern.

According to Goggin, alternating one-way traffic is used only in limited circumstances, including locations where traffic volumes and speeds are lower and where a signed detour would significantly affect local mobility, businesses, emergency responders and school buses.

"Due to the nature of the location and the condition of the structure, one-way alternating traffic would not be feasible," he said.

The bridge restriction has had effects beyond the immediate area, as motorists who once used Park Street have been redirected onto other roads in Norfolk and surrounding communities.

Vaughn, whose district includes Norfolk and Wrentham, said he regularly encounters the detour while traveling between Wrentham, Norfolk, Millis and Medfield.

"This closure routinely adds roughly 10 minutes to my commute each way," Vaughn wrote. "Multiply that by the countless trips many of us make over weeks and months, and those extra minutes add up quickly."

He acknowledged the effect is greater for residents living near the detour who contend with increased traffic each day.

Meanwhile, preliminary work toward replacing the bridge is continuing. Vaughn said contractors have been surveying the area to identify gas and electrical infrastructure and determine what utilities will need to be relocated as the project advances.

MassDOT has also committed to continuing to monitor the detour and existing signage and to consider additional improvements if an appropriate location or other solution becomes available, noted Goggin.