NEWBURYPORT — State officials announced yesterday that the design for the new Interstate 95 Whittier Bridge will include a path for bicyclists and pedestrians — the first time in the state's history such a path will be installed on an interstate bridge.
Since talk of the bridge replacement project began, public officials and residents from the three communities have pushed for the design to include a shared path. Among the biggest advocates was the Coastal Trails Coalition.
"I am thrilled," Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday said yesterday. "I think we've worked very hard to achieve this. I am very, very pleased this is happening. I am really excited that we will now be able to connect our three rail trails."
State leaders said yesterday the agreement for the shared path came from working with members of the three communities of Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury who all urged the state to look at improving bike and pedestrian access.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will provide an east/west connection via the Pine Hill/Ferry Road bridge replacement project and work with the task force on connections to Pine Hill Road, Maudslay Park and Moseley Woods. MassDOT will extend the path to Route 110, providing improved access to the nearby Ghost Trail and wider regional bicycle trail network.
State Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, the chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, said yesterday the addition of the shared path will help build on the region's reputation as an attractive destination.
"This is the first time this has ever been done in the commonwealth," he said. "There's a lot of excitement around it."
As ongoing discussions progressed, everyone's focus was on public safety, Baddour said. Other states have done this, and it can be done safely, he said.
"It's going to be beautiful," Baddour added, noting the path will include stops for walkers to look out over the river.
"We've already talked about designing some of the barriers so they are noise barriers as well," Baddour said, adding they would deflect some of the sound away from homes.
"A lot of thought, a lot of preparation, a lot of meetings have gone into this," he added.
MassDOT secretary and CEO Jeff Mullan hailed the path as "an unprecedented agreement."
"The governor and lieutenant governor have continually emphasized their commitment to bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly road and bridge projects," Mullan said in a prepared statement. "Their support and encouragement have allowed us to reach this unprecedented agreement with the communities that will be most affected by the Whittier bridge project."
"Providing a multi-use path on an interstate highway for the first time in Massachusetts demonstrates both our commitment to multi-modal travel and our embrace of new and innovative approaches under the Accelerated Bridge Program," MassDOT highway administrator Luisa Paiewonsky stated in a press release.
The $285 million Whittier bridge replacement project is among the largest in the $3 billion, eight-year accelerated bridge program.
MassDOT will replace the existing six-lane bridge with a new eight-lane structure. During construction, at least three lanes in each direction will be maintained during the peak traffic hours.
MassDOT also announced yesterday, that as part of the bridge's replacement, the state will use signage to alert drivers that businesses remain open.
The design-build feature will allow both design and construction to be completed by the same contractor, shortening the project timetable. The project is scheduled for advertisement in April 2012.
Construction is slated to start in the winter of 2013 and end in June, 2016.
In addition to the bike path, the state has agreed to pursue intersection improvements at Spofford, Moseley and Merrimac streets and at Route 1/Merrimac/Winter/Summer streets (Gillis Bridge), as separate projects from the Whittier bridge and Hines bridge projects.
Amesbury Mayor Thatcher Kezer said the communities are seeing the "positive results" of working together and collaborating with the state "not just to replace an aging historic bridge, but to enhance the quality of life in the region through alternative path connections."
"This is great news for our region and represents a forward-thinking approach to this important transportation project on the part of the Patrick administration," Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington said in a prepared statement. "The local communities are very committed to our regional bike trail network, and we are grateful to the governor and Secretary Mullan for listening to our concerns and incorporating a new bike/pedestrian path into the Whittier bridge project."
State Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, said in a statement yesterday that the bike paths in Newburyport and Salisbury have "become enormously popular."
"This path over the Whittier Bridge will link the two trails and provide connections to great attractions like Maudslay State Park," he said. "When complete, we will have one of the best systems of trails in the state with great opportunities for recreation and alternative modes of transportation."
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