Public Hearing Notice  Boston - Bowker Overpass Bridge superstructure replacement and new bridge construction

A Live Virtual Design Public Hearing will be hosted on the MassDOT website below to present the design for the proposed Bridge Superstructure Replacement and Widening Project, B-16-052, Bowker Overpass over Mass Pike, MBTA/CSX, and Ipswich Street in Boston.

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Bridge Superstructure Replacement and Widening Project B-16-052, Bowker Overpass over Mass Pike, MBTA/CSX, and Ipswich Street in Boston. All views and comments submitted in response to the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

The proposed project consists of replacing and widening the bridge superstructure of the existing Bowker Overpass bridge that spans over I-90, MBTA’s Worcester Commuter Rail Line, and Ipswich Street and reconfiguring the ramps to and from Commonwealth Avenue. The project includes bridge widening to the west and the elimination of the existing down ramp structure that spans the Muddy River to Commonwealth Avenue. The proposed project will provide bridge and roadway safety improvements, increase vertical clearance, improve seismic resiliency, and enhance the public realm with improved multi-use pathway connections to the adjacent Charlesgate and Back Bay Fens parklands. MassDOT will use staged construction to maintain traffic and to accommodate utilities during construction.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. MassDOT is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be presented at the hearing.

Project inquiries, written statements and other exhibits regarding the proposed undertaking may be submitted to Carrie Lavallee, P.E., Chief Engineer, via e-mail to MassDOTMajorProjects@dot.state.ma.us or via US Mail to Suite 6340, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Project Management, Project File No. 606496. Statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be emailed or postmarked no later than ten (10) business days after the hearing is posted to the MassDOT website listed below.

This hearing is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (e.g. interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, live captioning, videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), TTD/TTY at (857) 266-0603, fax (857) 368-0602 or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the hearing.

This Virtual Design Public Hearing or a cancellation announcement will be posted on this website.