01/04/2013

Fore River Bridge Public Meeting Set

MassDOT has scheduled a Public Information Meeting for the Fore River Bridge Replacement Project as follows:

Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, McCullough Building, Whipple Senior Center – Gymnasium, 182 Green Street, Weymouth

The meeting will provide an overview of the construction plans and traffic impacts for the replacement of the Fore River Bridge, which carries Route 3A over the Fore River between Quincy and Weymouth. MassDOT’s design/build team for the the project will will lead a discussion and answer questions.

Governor Deval Patrick in November broke ground on the start of construction to replace the Fore River Bridge connecting Quincy and Weymouth. The $244 million replacement project is one of five “megaprojects” funded through the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Accelerated Bridge Program. Since the program’s start in 2008, the number of structurally deficient bridges has declined approximately 20 percent.

The Fore River Bridge project replaces a temporary bridge constructed in 2002 with a new vertical-lift bridge. The Fore River channel will be widened to accommodate the vessels that serve the active petroleum terminal, and its vertical clearance in the down position will be higher to reduce the number of openings for sailboats. Design improvements will improve the aesthetics of the bridge.

The joint venture selected for the project is JF White and Skanska-Koch. Completion is scheduled for fall 2016.

To be added to the project email list, please contact Donny Dailey, 857-368-8902 or donny.dailey@state.ma.us. For more information, we invite you to visit www.mass.gov/massdot/foreriverbridge.

Fall River: Route 79/I-195/Braga Bridge Public Hearing Set

MassDOT has scheduled a design Public Hearing to discuss the proposed Route 79/I-195 Interchange Reconstruction and Braga Bridge Phase II Projects as follows:

Fall River- Wednesday, January 9, 6:30 PM, DCR Heritage State Park Visitor’s Center Auditorium, 200 Davol Street.

The proposed Route 79/I-195 Interchange Project funded by the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program consists of removing the two-level Route 79 viaduct and building an at-grade Route 79 that will use parts of existing streets (Broadway, Davol/Viaduct Street, and Davol Street).

The Braga Bridge Phase II Project includes structural repairs and cleaning and painting of structural steel on the Braga Bridge carrying I-195 over the Taunton River.

MassDOT has combined the two projects to better manage traffic impacts, since the Phase II Braga Bridge work will be underway when the Route 79/I-195 Interchange Improvements Project begins.

For more information, please visit the Route 79/I-195 Interchange Improvement Project website.

MBTA South Acton Station Reconstruction Moves Forward

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray joined MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey, MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly A. Scott, and state and local officials to break ground on a new South Acton Commuter Rail Station that will improve, expand and revitalize the busiest station on the Fitchburg Line.

“We are investing more than $150 million in state and federal funding to enhance transportation services along the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line, the oldest rail line in the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Today’s groundbreaking for the South Acton train station is bringing this region one step closer to renewed transportation services for hundreds of commuters.”

The design features new canopies, passenger shelters, benches, signage, a train approach warning system, variable message signs and enhanced security features including lighting, closed circuit television, video surveillance cameras, emergency call boxes and public telephones.

The project will add a second mainline track on the southern side of the existing track, full-train length, high-level platforms on either side to allow for level platform-to-coach boarding and an enclosed overhead walkway over the tracks to connect the two platforms.

The project will increase residents’ access to the station with improved parking, a second drop-off/pick-up area and shuttle service to and from satellite lots through the Minutevan Commuter Rail Shuttle Service. The parking lot will continue to be owned and operated by the Town of Acton, which will also be responsible for the maintenance of the new station elevators.

Work on the South Acton Station is expected to be complete by mid-2014.