Essex - Design Public Hearing webinar and comment period

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing webinar is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Route 133 (Main Street) over the Essex River Bridge superstructure replacement project. All views and comments submitted in response to the webinar will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

The proposed project consists of a complete superstructure replacement of Bridge No. E-11-001, Main Street over the Essex River in the Town of Essex. The project is considered a “Footprint Bridge” project. The existing bridge beams have deteriorated and require replacement. Steel beams have been placed beneath the existing bridge structure and are held in place by girders located in the existing shoulders. The girders are protected by temporary traffic barriers and restrict the width of the existing sidewalks. The bridge is currently posted, and traffic barriers restrict traffic to the middle of the bridge.

Replacement of the superstructure will require closure of the existing bridge. However, traffic will be maintained during construction by constructing a temporary roadway and bridge to the south of the existing structure. The Temporary roadway and bridge will provide for pedestrians and local traffic, including school buses and emergency vehicles. Large tractor trailers and vehicles with more than 4 axles will be directed to use the detour currently in place.

Repairs will be made to the existing substructure. The proposed superstructure will consist of precast concrete box beams. The proposed roadway will consist of two 11’ travel lanes and 4.50’ shared shoulders (for bicycle accommodations). New 5.5’ sidewalks will be provided on each side for Pedestrian accommodations.

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

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the webinar, plans and a project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

Written statements and other exhibits regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Bridge Project Management Project File No. 608596. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing webinar transcript must be postmarked no later than ten (10) business days after the webinar is posted to the MassDOT website listed below. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us.

This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT's Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857) 368-8580, fax (857) 368-0602, TTD/TTY (857) 368-0603 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 meeting.

Hearing webinar cancellation announcements will be posted on this website.