Stimulus works: Building a new interchange, providing access in the South coast

A new biotechnology park that will straddle the border of Fall River and Freetown is being developed, and it is a stimulus-funded road project that is essential to making this unique and ambitious project happen.

"The trigger to getting this development done was the construction of this off ramp," said State Senator Michael Rodrigues, who represents Fall River. "It was critical to this project."

Rodrigues is referring to a new interchange off Route 24 on the Fall River/Freetown line that is being funded with $32.7 million in stimulus grants. The interchange, which will be called Exit 8B, will enable access to the 300-acre biotechnology park, called SouthCoast Bio Park, and will also provide easier access to the 325 acre Riverfront Business Park on the Freetown side.

The Riverfront Business Park includes a Stop and Shop Distribution center with 400 loading docks. The Park couldn't do further development without the new interchange. Recently, Meditech announced plans to develop a new building in the Park that will accomodate 800 additional employees.

The SouthCoast Bio Park already has an anchor tenant: The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is developing a product testing facility for biotechnology companies on a four-acre site. The plan, according to Paul Vigeant, vice chancellor for

economic development for the university, is not only to provide more cost effective testing services but also to demonstrate to these companies that come for the testing the viability of locating their companies in the biopark.

"There is a good economic argument that this is a good place to be," he said, noting that it is much cheaper to build in this area and it is still close to the major research centers in the region.

Michelle Paul, of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, noted that a number of interested tenants have expressed interest in the Bio Park. "One of the biggest things we push is the access," she said.