Massachusetts Community Debates Turtle Crossing Signs

Recently a spate of "Turkey Crossing" signs has appeared in some SouthCoast communities. Actually, I've only seen them in Westport, but that's cool.

We have signs to warn of geese crossing, ducks crossing, deer crossing, kids crossing, and even fire engines crossing, so why not signs warning of turtles crossing, too?

If it's on the road, why not post a sign warning motorists of it so no one or nothing gets hurt? Makes sense, right?

When it comes to warning drivers about the potential for turtles on the road, it's not so cut and dry for the good people of Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

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The Lowell Sun reports, "Behind the homes on Cathy Road, there lies a small pond, where turtles hatch their young in the warmer months and travel across to other bodies of water." In doing so, the turtles often cross the road and are squished by passing cars.

According to the Sun, the Chelmsford Department of Public Works recently posted "Turtle Crossing" signs facing traffic from both directions warning motorists to be weary of the little critters.

The paper reported that just days later, a Cathy Road resident complained that signs "devalued her property" and demanded they be removed. One sign was immediately removed. The other remains while the town debates what to do next.

The great former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neil of Massachusetts, once said, "All politics is local." It is indeed.

The great "Turtle Crossing" sign debate continues on Cathy Road and throughout Chelmsford – and I suppose that's a good thing, because that's exactly how the government is supposed to work.