Public Hearing Notice  MONSON - proposed Bridge Replacement carrying Boston Road East / Park Street (US 20) over Quaboag River in Monson-Palmer

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Bridge Replacement of Bridge No. M-27-022=P-01-033 carrying Boston Road East (US 20) over Quaboag River. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

The proposed project consists of the replacement of the existing bridge consisting of a two-span concrete deck and steel stringer superstructure, and concrete abutments and center pier. The proposed structure includes a single span bridge consisting of steel girders supporting a concrete deck with an asphalt wearing surface. The proposed structure will be supported by concrete abutments at either end of the span. To help prevent scouring of the substructure, the span has been increased to 125'-0", without a center pier, and the location of the bridge has been shifted to the west to better accommodate the Quaboag River's natural course. The bridge will carry two 12'-0" travel lanes, two 8'-0" shoulders to accommodate bicyclists, and two 5'-0" sidewalks to accommodate pedestrians. To maintain vehicular and pedestrian traffic at all times, construction will be completed in phases.

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 discussed at this hearing.

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing 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, Highway Division Project File No.607688. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked no later than ten (10) business days after this Public Hearing. 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 (10) business days before the meeting.