Date: 09/23/2011

Governor Patrick: American Jobs Act Boosts Transportation Projects

Governor Deval Patrick this week called on Congress to pass President Obama’s American Jobs Act as he visited the nine-year-old temporary Fore River Bridge connecting Quincy and Weymouth.

The President’s plan includes more than $850 million for Massachusetts’ highway and transit modernization projects. With additional federal funds available to build a new Fore River Bridge and replace others across the state, MassDOT could replace an additional 19 structurally deficient bridges, reducing the current backlog.

“President Obama’s plan to invest in a better future directly benefits the residents and business of Massachusetts,” said Governor Patrick. “The American Jobs Act will put hundreds of millions of dollars into our roads and thousands of people to work. I thank the President for his partnership and call on Congress to pass this bill quickly.”

The Fore River Bridge project will build a new vertical lift bridge, with construction expected to begin in 2012. Currently, the state is expected to pay 20 percent of the project cost. Under the President’s bill, the project would be entirely federally-funded, freeing up state funds to invest in other structurally deficient bridges.

President Obama’s Jobs Act includes $50 billion to modernize highways, transit, rail and aviation, putting hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job.  In Massachusetts, the President’s plan invests more than $850 million in highway and transit projects, supporting more than 11,100 local jobs.

The original Fore River Bridge built in 1936 was demolished in 2004 after it was found years earlier to have significantly deteriorated. A temporary bridge was erected to keep traffic moving along Route 3A.

Today, that temporary bridge is nearing the end of its intended lifespan and is in need of constant maintenance to remain open. The bridge is a primary connection between Quincy and Weymouth and carries more than 36,000 vehicles per day. The bridge spans a U.S. Coast Guard regulated navigable channel leading to a designated port area.

The replacement of the Fore River Bridge is part of Governor Patrick's Accelerated Bridge Program to repair or replace structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth. The Fore River Bridge Project is one of the largest in the program.

To learn more, visit the Fore River Bridge project website.

Route 2 Closure and Detour Map

 MassDOT has assembled a map showing the closed portion of Route 2 that suffered significant damage due to flooding from Tropical Storm Irene and outlining the current posted detour.

Route 2 is closed from Mile Marker 21.6 in Florida to Mile Marker 27.5 in Charlemont, with damage including severe slope failures, roadway undermining and instability, eroded bridge approaches, mud slides, and culvert and retaining wall damage.

 The significant damage and necessary repairs require an extended period of time to restore the roadway, and MassDOT is committed to an accelerated repair process. 

Please review the Route 2 damage and detour route map to learn more and view photos of the damage.

 The Detour Route is also listed below.

From North Adams:  Route 8, Adams, to Route 116 through Adams, Savoy, Plainfield, and Ashfield, to Route 112 through Ashfield and Buckland, to Route 2, East Charlemont.

South Station Expansion Moves Forward

MassDOT has received the formal go-ahead from the Federal Railroad Administration to move forward with the South Station Expansion project. 

 MassDOT has been awarded $32.5 million in federal funds, to be matched by $10.5 million in Commonwealth funds, to support the costs of environmental review and conceptual design for the ultimate expansion of South Station.  The project will greatly improve rail service in the most densely-populated corridor of the country by increasing track and platform space at South Station, which will allow for more frequent and more reliable Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail service in and out of Boston. 

MassDOT will also consider opportunities for air-rights development over an expanded South Station.  MassDOT is partnering with the MBTA and Massport, and working closely with the City of Boston, on this effort.

More information can be found at the MassDOT South Station Expansion website.  

MassDOT Board October Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will hold its next regular public business meeting on Wednesday, October 5, 1:00pm, MBTA Board Room, Suite 3910, State Transportation Building, Boston.    

 The MBTA Board will meet first at 1pm, followed by the MassDOT Board.  All meetings are open to the public. The meeting schedule is available on the MassDOT website.

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/BoardsCommittees/BoardofDirectors/BoardMeetings.aspx