Public Informational Meeting #2
February 11, 2015 – 6:00PM
Seaport Inn & Marina, Fairhaven, MA
Agenda
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Introductions
Study Purpose & Process
Long-Term (Bridge) Alternatives
Short & Medium-Term Alternatives
What’s Next?
– Alternatives Analysis (Evaluation Criteria)
– Project Schedule
Introductions
• MassDOT
– Ethan Britland – Project Manager
• HDR Study Team
– John Weston – HDR Team Project Manager
– Pete Davis – HDR Team Lead Bridge Designer
– Jill Barrett (FHI) – Public Involvement
Study Purpose
• Evaluate multi-modal
transportation & associated
land use issues
• Develop potential solutions
• Recommend improvements
along the Route 6 Corridor
Study Process
MassDOT 5-Step Planning Process
Why Study the Bridge?
Key Issues/Constraints
1. Bridge Reliability/ Structural
Soundness
2. Bridge Navigational Width
3. Bridge Vertical Clearance
4. Frequency/Duration of Openings
5. Environmental Considerations
6. Bicycle/Pedestrian Conditions
Bridge Navigational Width
• Width of Bridge Opening
Constraint to Vessels
– Swing span navigational width of
94 feet
– Harbor hurricane barrier limits all
vessel breadth to 150 feet
• Delays to Cargo Shipments
– Winds (12 knot max)
– Navigational constraints
– Additional costs (tug & pilot fees)
Weather delays result in additional costs of about
$40,000 per day per vessel
Typical Tug Fees to navigate through the bridge are
$7,000 to $18,000 per vessel
Importance of the Port of New Bedford
• New Bedford port activity supports over 2,500 direct portrelated employees and over 2,200 employees throughout the
city through multiplier impacts.
• Marine commerce contributes $850 million to the local
economy.
• Currently, the Port of New Bedford supports a diverse market
of cargo transport handling over $230 million in shipping of
bulk commodities and break-bulk cargo.
• The Port of New Bedford is currently undertaking a more than
$200 million commercial make-over deepening channels and
berths and repairing and enlarging marine terminals and
wharfs.
Bridge constraints to North Harbor
Limits the utilization of:
Long-Term (Bridge) Alternatives
• Vertical-Lift Bridge
• Double-Leaf Bascule
Bridge (Standard)
• Single-Leaf Bascule
Bridge (Dutch or Rolling)
Vertical-Lift Bridge
James River Bridge, Virginia (U.S. 17)
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge (Standard)
Berkley Bridge, Norfolk, VA (I-264)
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge
Salmon Bay Bridge, Seattle ,WA
Existing Bridge
• Key Considerations
– Maintenance of
roadway traffic
– Maintenance of
marine traffic
– Impacts to local
businesses
– Aesthetics
– Construction
requirements
– Costs
Vertical Lift Bridge - Overview
• Navigational channel width –
up to 270 ft.
– Horizontal clearance is
sufficient for anticipated
vessels (Hurricane Barrier is
150 ft.)
Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, France
• Air draft – as shown-110 ft.
– Vertical clearance is
sufficient for typical vessels
– Limits ability for specialized
cargo vessels, such as
those carrying wind turbine
components
New Memorial Bridge, Portsmouth, NH
Vertical Lift Bridge – Plan/Profile
Existing
Bridge
Vertical Lift
Bridge
Vertical Lift Bridge – Plan
Vertical Lift Bridge – Closed
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Vertical Lift Bridge – Open
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Vertical Lift Bridge – Construction
• Staging: 3 lane vehicular traffic during construction
• Both navigational channels open during
construction
• Construction Duration – 33 months
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Mobilization (Months 1-6)
Construction (Months 6-33)
Fabrication (Months 5-24)
Roadway Closures – one time, 2 weeks (Month 28)
Navigational Closures – 1 long weekend (Month 28)
Vertical Lift Bridge – Costs/Opening
• Estimated Cost - $90 to 120 million
• Open/Close Time
– Existing Bridge – 7.5 minutes
– Vertical Lift – 7.5 minutes
• Partial Open/Close for Typical Fishing Vessel – may
save 30-60 seconds.
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Overview
• Bridge counter-weight
located below roadway
surface
• Navigational channel
width – 150 ft.
– Horizontal clearance is
sufficient for anticipated
vessels (Hurricane
Barrier is 150 ft.)
• Air draft – unlimited
– No limits to vertical
clearance for vessels
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Plan/Profile
Existing
Bridge
Double-Leaf
Bascule
Bridge
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Plan
Double-Leaf Bascule – Closed
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Double-Leaf Bascule – Opening
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Construction
• Staging: vehicular traffic closed for most of
construction
• West channel closed during construction
• Construction Duration – 37 months
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Mobilization (Months 1-6)
Construction (Months 4-37)
Fabrication (Months 5-26)
Roadway Closures – 24 months (Month 10-34)
Navigational Closures – 3 long weekends (Months
10, 32 & 33)
Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Costs/Opening
• Estimated Cost - $85 to 100 million
• Opening/Close Time
– Existing Bridge – 7.5 minutes
– Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge – 7.5 minutes
• Limited opportunity for partial opening (partially
opened bridge represents a navigational hazard)
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Overview
• Bridge counter-weight located above roadway
surface
• Navigational channel width – 150 ft.
– Horizontal clearance is sufficient for anticipated
vessels (Hurricane Barrier is 150 ft.)
• Air draft – unlimited
– No limits to vertical clearance for vessels
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Plan/Profile
Existing
Bridge
Single-Leaf
Bascule
Bridge
(Rolling)
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Plan
Single-Leaf Bascule – Closed
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Single-Leaf Bascule – Opening
View from Captain Leroy’s on Pope’s Island
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Construction
• Staging: 2 lane vehicular traffic during construction
• At least one channel open during construction (new
channel open in Month 22)
• Construction Duration – 26 months
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Mobilization (Months 1-6)
Construction (Months 6-26)
Fabrication (Months 5-17)
Roadway Closures – three months (Months 18-20)
Navigational Closures – 1 long weekend (Month 21)
and West Channel closed for two months (Months
19-20)
Single-Leaf Bascule Bridge - Costs/Opening
• Estimated Cost - $50 to 70 million
• Opening/Close Time
– Existing Bridge – 7.5 minutes
– Double-Leaf Bascule Bridge – 7.5 minutes
• Limited opportunity for partial opening (partially
opened bridge represents a navigational hazard)
Short/Medium-Term Alternatives
• Corridor Traffic Improvements
• Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
• Variable Message/ITS Signs
– Sign Systems
– Detour Routes
Corridor Traffic Improvements
Existing Conditions – 2014 LOS
Corridor Traffic Improvements
Future Conditions – 2035 with Improvements
Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Existing Conditions/Issues
Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Existing (April 2015) Bridge Cross Sections
Middle Bridge (Swing Span) Cross Section
Typical Cross Section
Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Proposed Bridge Bike Lane Addition Cross Section
New Middle Bridge Cross Section
Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
New Bedford Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements
Route 6/MacArthur Drive Pedestrian Ramp Options
Variable Message/ITS Signs
Existing & Proposed ITS Signs
Variable Message/ITS Signs
Existing and Proposed Detour Routes
Variable Message/ITS Signs
Go-Time/Real Time Traffic Management (RTTM) System
Left: Graphic User Interface for Travel Time Display
Top Right: Portable Variable Message Sign (VMS)
Bottom Right: Static Time Travel Board
What’s Next?
• Alternatives Analysis
– Evaluation Criteria will be used to
assess the Alternatives
• Economic Development
Opportunities
• Bridge Operations
• Transportation Impacts
• Safety
• Environment
• Community
• Alternative Feasibility
– Re-evaluation of the bridge
clearance assumptions
(vertical/horizontal) including
assessment of benefits and costs
Project Schedule
New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Corridor Study Schedule
Project Schedule
TASK
1. Project Scoping (Study Area, Goals and Objectives)
2. Existing Conditions & Issue Evaluation
3. Alternatives Development
4. Alternatives Analysis
5. Recommendations
6. Final Report
Public and Stakeholder Participation
Public Informational Meeting =
Stakeholder Advisory Group =
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
2014
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
2015
Mar Apr
May
Jun
Questions?
Study information can be found on the study website:
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/newbedfordstudy
Comments and feedback can be emailed to:
jbarrett@fhiplan.com