HADLEY — A possible reconfiguration of the intersection of Bay Road and South Maple Street, identified by the state’s Department of Transportation as an appropriate location for an all-way stop, will not be pursued by the Select Board.

Even though town officials were recently notified that the state would cover the costs of engineering and design to convert the existing T-shaped intersection, with only drivers heading south on South Maple required to come to a stop, board members appeared uncomfortable with the idea before voting to table it at Wednesday’s meeting.

Board member Jane Nevinsmith said she could see the three-way stop as being more hazardous, potentially creating a free-for-all with drivers unaware of which stopped vehicle has the right of way to proceed.

Instead, Nevinsmith said making it a signalized intersection might be preferable. “I think if it’s serious we should put a traffic light there,” Nevinsmith said.

Police Lt. Michell Kuc told the board that the intersection was the only one in town identified by MassDOT for the All-Way Stop Intersection program, which aims to reduce injuries and fatalities from crashes.

But Kuc said he didn’t have data on how many accidents happen there.

Police Chief Michael Mason, who is serving as the interim town administrator, said he’s not sure the project would have been brought forward if not for the outreach from MassDOT. Mason also said MassDOT will only pay for the work associated with an all-way stop, and that he would check to see if the town has any legal exposure from not moving forward.

Select Board members pushed back on the concept.

“I know MassDOT always has the town’s best interest at heart when it makes changes,” said member David J. Fill II said, drawing chuckles, as town officials have raised concerns about the state’s ongoing widening of Route 9.

Fill said vehicles traveling from the malls and other stores along Route 9 already have four-way stops to deal with at Mill Valley Road, which extends from East Hadley Road in Amherst, and Moody Bridge Road, which is a continuation of West Pomeroy Lane in Amherst.

“I see this as just turning Bay Road into a complete nightmare, as well, and just slowing everything down,” Fill said.

Select Board member Amy Parsons wondered if it would be more appropriate to put blinking yellow lights on Bay Road, with a blinking red light on South Maple Street. That is what exists at the intersection of Middle Street and Bay Road, near town center.

As the board tabled the idea, Select Board member Randy Izer said if the project were completed, it’s possible people wouldn’t break their habits of not having a stop sign on that stretch of Bay Road.

“Not only is it going to back up traffic, how long is it going to be for people to realize there are stop signs where there haven’t been,” Izer said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.