Above: Three Southborough bridges and another in Westborough are proposed for replacement next year. (images cropped from Google Maps)
Next week, the Mass Dept of Transportation will hold a public hearing in Southborough on a bridge replacement project. The project proposes to replace three bridges in town and one close to the border in Westborough. Each bridge is a section of the MassPike (Route 90).
The “eight spans” overpass Cordaville Road, Parkerville Road, Woodland Road, Flanders Road. (Click thumbnails to enlarge images.)
The project is apparently timed to avoid commuting issues. If it runs as scheduled, work would take place in summer 2021 over 8 weekends.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, February 27th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Finn School (60 Richards Road).
The MassDOT announcement for the hearing on “project 608335” explains:
The purpose of this hearing is to inform the public of the proposed bridge replacement project and to provide an opportunity for public question and comment. All questions and comments raised at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent practicable.
Proposal:
The proposed project consists of the replacement of four bridges (eight spans) along the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). Bridges S-20-022 (Parkerville Road), S-20-024 (Woodland Road), and W-24-032 (Flanders Road) will have their superstructures replaced, and Bridge S-20-024 (Cordaville Road) will be fully replaced.The bridges will be reconstructed in the same footprint as their existing spans. When complete, the bridges will be restored to their original traffic configurations. MassDOT will replace these structures using accelerated bridge construction methods over eight separate weekends of work during the summer of 2021.
Written comments 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 Section, Project File No. 605342. 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.
For more details, click here. (That’s also the link to check on possible postponement due to if there is inclement weather.)
It does need to be done. The accelerated construction techniques were used successfully a few years ago to replace several bridges over I-93 north of Boston, and the Cedar St. bridge over Rt. 9 in Wellesley.
All of this (necessary) construction, and I just want sidewalks. I thought several years ago there was talk of sidewalks on the north side of 85.
There was a meeting in 2018 about rebuilding Cordaville Rd and sidewalks. The work was hopefully going to start in 2019. Due to delays in the Main St project and financial constraints, the Cordaville Rd project has been put on hold. As I understand it, when it does come up again the DPW will have to go to town meeting for funding. That won’t happen until Main St is finished.