Payloader removed from mall parking lot, city working with owner to remove other barriers

A payloader that had been blocking west side access to the Watertown Mall since September has been moved, but several barricades remain in place after the city ordered the mall’s owner to remove the traffic obstructions.

“We are working on resolving this,” said City Manager Amanda Mack. “There are still some barricades up that we need to determine if they impede the flow of traffic.”

The city sent several letters to the mall's owner directing removal of the obstructions blocking access to Jenson Avenue from the mall. The latest letter informed the owner it had until Oct. 31 to remove the blockade. Noncompliance with the order would result in the city removing the obstructions and penalizing the owner for not following city ordinances, per the letter.

“The whole premise of this situation stems back to our development regulations requiring adequate degrees of access for emergency responders and general traffic flow,” said City Engineer Heath VonEye.

The barricades that remain still do not allow for fire and emergency responders to travel through to the parking lot. But the city is hoping the mall owner can continue to be negotiated with to remove the remaining street obstructions, he said.

The Watertown Mall is operated by Lexington Realty International, according to its website.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Mall payloader has been moved but remaining barricades are an issue