Public Hearing Notice  WEST BROOKFIELD - proposed Foster Hill Road Over Coys Brook Bridge Replacement Project

Purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed replacement of the Foster Hill Road Bridge over Coys Brook in the Town of West Brookfield, MA. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:

The proposed project consists of replacing the existing 20 foot single span bridge structure with a new 40 foot single span bridge structure. The new bridge structure will accommodate a 24 foot wide roadway and is to be constructed in the same approximate footprint as the existing bridge. The roadway approaches on each side of the bridge will be reconstructed. The work will also include safety improvements such as new guardrail throughout and an improved roadway profile. During construction, the roadway will be closed to vehicular traffic with a three and a half mile detour. A temporary pedestrian bridge will be constructed to allow pedestrians to utilize the roadway during construction.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The Town of West Brookfield 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, Project File No. 608633. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of 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.