Access Road:
A proposed connector road to link National Avenue (off Route 133) with upper Tenney Street, to enable heavy truck traffic on its way to industrial parks off Tenney Street, to avoid the residential neighborhoods of lower Tenney Street. The roadway will also serve as an economic development opportunity for industrial land which will front on the new roadway. Roadway construction will be federally funded through the State Transportation Improvement Program.
Proposed cost 3.1 million dollars
December 2006 status:
Work has progressed to the 100% stage. The roadway from Norino Way to the old part of National Ave. has the finish coat of asphalt completed. Work is progressing as follows; guard rail work is being completed, pavement markings are scheduled to be done the week of Nov. 20. weather permitting. The roadway is scheduled to be officially opened the last week of November. The town has completed the rebuilding of the old part of National Ave. out to Rt.133. Work by the town has included full depth recycling of the road bed,, with asphalt injection. The roadbed has the finish coat of asphalt and has new traffic markings.
Total length of new road is 3,609 feet. I am currently working with the state on a public works economic development grant (pewed), to build a park and ride complex on surplus state land located next to the new roadway. A conceptual plan has been developed and sent to MassHighway for approval.(Jan.2006) In the last several months, major companies have shown an interest in purchasing land along the new roadway. This indeed is good news for the economic development of the town. Contractor is S&R construction of Bradford, Ma. Resident engineer for the state is Charlie Amato. His office is located in the post office building on Central Street. Call highway office with any questions. We will be updating the progress as necessary. Completion date is scheduled for November 2006. A final inspection for this project is
scheduled for Friday December 15,@ 8am. If necessary, a punch list of any items failing inspection will be developed for completion in the spring. Road is now open to all traffic.
Urban Systems Phase II:
Major reconstruction of several downtown roadways including sidewalks, drainage and safety improvements. This project will be federally funded through a state grant. Project value 2.9 million dollars. Streets involved are as follows: East Main Street, from the bank building to Chestnut Street, West Main Street, from #Sedlers to 60' beyond Moulton St., and Library Street.
December 2006 Status:
Work has progressed to the 100% stage. The town has requested that the contractor not landscape Murch Park. A group has been working on restoration of the park and the downtown area with appropriate period plantings. The traffic lights at the intersection of East Main Street and Winter Street are now in full operation. This is a much needed safety improvement for this area where numerous pedestrians, most of which are students at our middle/ high school walk on their way to school. The other light is a flashing beacon at the intersection of Elm and East Main street. This light has the capabilities of becoming a full functioning traffic signal in the future should it be required. The lights will be monitored for the next month by the traffic engineers and adjusted if necessary.
A walk through inspection of the project was performed on November 13, and a punch list of items left to be done was developed and are being worked on. There have been inconveniences with this project but most have commented that it has made a great difference in the downtown area. The new sidewalks are the most commented about as to the new safety they give to pedestrians.
Contractor for the project is J. Tropeano of Andover, Ma. Resident engineer for the state is Charlie Amato. He is located in the post office building on Central St. We will be updating the progress of the construction as warranted. Please call the highway office with any questions. Scheduled construction end: November 2006.
BAILEY LANE BRIDGE:
March 2007:
Estimated cost of engineering is $70,000. This was approved, and we are progressing with an article for the annual town meeting (May of 2007) to fund the project. (est. $100-250k depending upon other available funding.) This year we will be asking for funding from "Free Cash" (200k) instead of an override which has failed twice. Balance of funding needed will come from Chapter 90 state aid. The engineering for the project began in January 2006. Engineer for the project is Chappell Associates. The environmental permitting process as of this update is about 90% complete. The 90% design plans were submitted to the town on March 12, 2007. We are hopeful that we will secure finding this year and move ahead to put the project out to bid by early summer. Should funding fall short there is a contingency plan in
place which will be used if necessary.
The bridge was built in the 1930, and was seriously damaged during the floods of both 1987 and 1996. The town has been aware of the problem since 1987 and has failed to fund numerous requests over the years to fund the replacement of the structure. Funding has also been sought from the state and federal government during the last 10 years.The bridge was deemed unsafe for travel by the towns consulting engineer in November of 2004. Currently, the bridge remains closed to all except foot traffic.
The Board of selectmen attempted to have the road opened for emergency vehicles only, (February 2007) but it failed to gain approval from the towns finance and advisory board (March 2007) to provide the funds necessary to accomplish this. Town safety officials (Police and Fire Chiefs) have gone on record that they do not agree with the Board of Selectmen, and want the road to remain closed until the bridge is fixed properly. I concur with those opinions. Much erroneous information has been circulated about this project. Should any citizen want a complete history and facts of this issue please call the office 978-352-5704.
UPDATING OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS: SQUARE AND CENTRAL/LIBRARY STREETS:
December 2006:
Chapter 90 funding (town project) will be used to update the traffic lights at the above locations. Project will include cold planing the pavement in the entire area, installing traffic sensors under the top layer of pavement and replacing the electronics in the traffic control cabinets and replacing all street pavement markings. Also "Opitcom" will be installed so the lights can be changed from inside the police / fire stations and emergency vehicles that are approaching the intersections. This will make for much more efficient traffic control in the area. The engineering has been completed and bids are being solicited. Bid opening date is August 9. Est cost. (2/2006) $315,000.
Project is 100% complete. The cold planing of the pavement, sensor installation, repaving of the area, and new traffic markings have been completed. We have also installed a new style of crosswalks in the area that look like brick but is actually a modified polymer that is resistant to wear by traffic and snow removal equipment. These walks have been completed except for the white out lines which should be done in the next two weeks weather permitting. We have had many positive comments about these new walk ways.
We will continue to replace all of the walks in the down town area with this new process as the budget allows. The traffic light upgrades have started this week and should be completed in the next two weeks. This will allow for the better flow of traffic. The pedestrian signals for these lights are also being upgraded. All of the major work within the roadway was performed at night. Project is scheduled for completion the second week of December. This is a town project. Should you have any questions please call the office.
TENNEY/ EAST MAIN STREET INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS ; 2007
The improvements of this intersection will consist of full signalization of this dangerous intersection with an emergency pre-empt system. Also included in this project will be drainage improvements, extension and repair of the existing sidewalks and related safety improvements. Project is scheduled to begin in late June after school is out of session.
The improvements will be performed by Mirra Company as negotiated off site improvement in relation their 40-b housing project. Total project value approx $650,000. We will be performing the inspections and have direct oversite of this project along with the design engineer. Should their be any questions please call the office.
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