DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010
AT
PHILLIPSTON TOWN HALL
50 THE COMMON
PHILLIPSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01331
7:00 PM
FOR THE PROPOSED
Route 2 over Route 2A
Project File No. 603495
Bridge No. P-09-004 (19B)
IN THE TOWN OF PHILLIPSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(HIGHWAY DIVISION)
LUISA PAIEWONSKY
HIGHWAY DIVISION ADMINISTRATOR
FRANK A. TRAMONTOZZI, P.E.
CHIEF ENGINEER
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
Project File No. 603495
A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT – Highway Division (Project No. 603495) to discuss the
proposed replacement of the Route 2 Bridge over State Road (Route 2A) in Phillipston, MA.
WHERE:
Phillipston Town Hall
50 The Common
Phillipston, MA 01331
WHEN:
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 7:00pm
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted
with the proposed bridge replacement project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be
reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.
PROPOSAL: The proposed project consists of the replacement of the Route 2 Bridge over State Road (Route 2A),
Bridge No. P-09-004, in Phillipston. The project will include replacement of the bridge
superstructure, modifications to the bridge substructure, reconstruction of Route 2 approaches to
provide 16’-6” vertical clearance, temporary Exit 18 ramp widening to accommodate an 8-day Route 2
detour, and minor modifications to the intersections of Ward Hill Road with the Route 2 eastbound
off-ramp and Route 2A with Exit 18 eastbound and westbound ramps.
Right-of-way acquisition is not required for this project.
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 Frank A. Tramontozzi, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT
Highway Division, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: Design-Build Program, Project File No. 603495. 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.
The community has declared that this facility is accessible to all in compliance with the ADA / Title II. However,
persons in need of ADA / Title II accommodations should contact Angela Rudikoff by phone VOICE at (617) 9737005, TDDY (617) 973-7306, or email angela.rudikoff@eot.state.ma.us. Requests must be made at least 10 days prior
to the date of the public hearing.
In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the MassDOT website
http://www.mass.gov/mhd.
LUISA PAIEWONSKY
HIGHWAY DIVISION ADMINISTRATOR
Boston, Massachusetts
FRANK A. TRAMONTOZZI, P.E.
CHIEF ENGINEER
WHAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING?
WHY A PUBLIC HEARING?
To provide an assured method whereby the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can furnish to the
public information concerning the State’s highway construction proposals, and to afford every interested
resident of the area an opportunity to be heard on any proposed project. At the same time, the hearings
afford the Commonwealth an additional opportunity to receive information from local sources which would
be of value to the State in making its final decisions to what design should be advanced for development.
WHY NOT A VOTE ON HIGHWAY PLANS?
The hearings are not intended to be a popular referendum for the purpose of determining the nature of
a proposed improvement by a majority of those present. They do not relieve the duly constituted officials of
a State highway department of the necessity for making decisions in State highway matters for which they
are charged with full responsibility.
WHAT DOES A PUBLIC HEARING ACCOMPLISH?
It is designed to ensure the opportunity for, or the availability of, a forum to provide factual
information which is pertinent to the determination of the final alternative considered by the state to best
serve the public interest, and on which improvement projects are proposed to be undertaken.
It is important that the people of the area express their views in regard to the proposal being
presented, so that views can be properly recorded in the minutes of the meeting. These minutes will be
carefully studied and taken into consideration in the determination of the final design.
TO SAFEGUARD THE PROPERTY OWNER
If your property, or a portion of it, must be taken by the State for a highway in the interest of all people of the
Commonwealth, your rights are fully protected under the law. Briefly, here are some of the answers to
questions you might ask.
1.
WHO CONTACTS ME?
Representatives of the Right of Way Bureau of the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation. They will explain the procedure to be followed in acquiring and paying for
the property. An appraiser may ask questions needed to arrive at a fair price for your
property.
2.
WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR MY PROPERTY?
Every offer is made to insure that an equitable value is awarded to you for the property, or to
appraise the “damage” to the property as a result of the taking. MassDOT appraisers,
independent appraisers, MassDOT “Review Appraisers” and a Real Estate Review Board may
all contribute in arriving at a fair price. The State also pays a proportionate part of the real
estate tax for the current year, and interest from the date the property is acquired.
3.
MUST I ACCEPT THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFER?
No. If, after the figure established as a fair market value has been offered to the owner, the
owner feels he or she is not being offered a fair price, he or she has the right within two years
to appeal to the courts. PENDING a court decision, he or she can be paid a “protanto” (or
“for the time being”) amount that in no way prejudices the court appeal.
4.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY HOUSE?
The owner will have the opportunity to buy back his or her house, provided he or she has a
location to which it can be moved; and the proper permits for its removal. If the owner does
not wish to repurchase, the house will be advertised for bids. The highest bidder, who must
also have a location and permits for removal, will be awarded the house.
5.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MUST RELOCATE?
In addition to the fair market value of the property, the Department pays certain relocation
benefits for both owners and tenants of acquired residences and businesses who meet
eligibility requirements. Assistance in relocation is also provided. Department brochures are
available for details on these benefits.
SOURCE: Google Maps
SPS New England
98 Elm Street
Salisbury, MA 01952-1804
TranSystems
38 Chauncy Street
Suite 200
Boston, MA 02111
LOCATION MAP
Route 2 over Route 2A
Millbury, MA
Route 2 over Route 2A
Bridge No. P-09-004
Phillipston, MA
Project Location
The Bridge Replacement Contract is located in the Town of Phillipston, Massachusetts. The limits of work
are approximately 500 feet east and west of the bridge.
Purpose
The purpose of this contract is to remove and replace the existing bridge superstructure carrying Route 2
over Route 2A and increase vertical clearance over Route 2A.
Existing Conditions
Bridge P-09-004 carries Route 2 over Route 2A in Phillipston between the Exit 18 eastbound off- and onramps. Route 2 is a two-lane divided limited access highway consisting of one travel lane and a right
(outside) shoulder in each direction, with a median strip separating eastbound and westbound traffic. The
vertical alignment of Route 2 is on an approximately 2.8% grade. Route 2A is a two-lane undivided
unlimited access highway consisting of one lane and a right (outside) shoulder in each direction.
There are overhead utility lines under the existing bridge, supported on wooden utility poles along the west
side of Route 2A.
The existing bridge has a single span steel stringer superstructure with a concrete deck resting on concrete
abutments. The existing vertical clearance under the bridge is approximately 14’-7”. The many steel
stringer show signs of significant collision damage.
Scope of Work
The work shall consist of replacing the existing superstructure with a new superstructure consisting of steel
stringers and a concrete deck. The existing abutments and wing walls will be reused with new concrete caps.
The vertical clearance under the bridge will be increased to 16’-6”. The roadway profile of Route 2 will be
raised to accommodate the increased clearance under the bridge.
The new superstructure will be built on temporary shoring adjacent to the bridge. During an eight-day one
week shut down, Route 2 traffic will be detoured via the Exit 18 eastbound off- and on-ramps so that the
existing superstructure can be removed, the new superstructure can be rolled into place, and the Route 2
approaches can be raised.
Other work elements include minor reconfiguration of the intersection of Ward Hill Road with the Exit 18
eastbound off-ramp to better delineate traffic movements; and restriping the intersections of Route 2A with
Exit 18 eastbound and westbound on-ramps to provide left turn lanes for Route 2A traffic entering the Route
2 on-ramps.
Utilities
Currently, no utilities are carried across the bridge. The existing areal utilities that currently pass under the
bridge will be relocated underground.
Right-of-Way Impacts
No right-of-way impacts are anticipated. All work is within the state highway layout.
Maintenance of Traffic during Construction
The bridge will be open to traffic except during the one week shutdown necessary to demolish the existing
structure and roll in the new bridge in place. To accommodate the short term shutdown, the Exit 18
eastbound off- and on-ramps will be temporarily widened and two-way Route 2 traffic will be diverted onto
these ramps and a portion of Route 2A between them. Route 2A traffic will be detoured via Exit 17 to the
west and Exit 19 to the east. Ward Hill Road access to and from the Route 2 eastbound off-ramp will be
closed for the duration of the Route 2 detour. The temporarily widened ramps will be restored to their preconstruction condition upon termination of the Route 2 detour.
Project Status
The Plans on display this evening are 75% complete. Comments from this evening will be reviewed and
addressed in the final design. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of this year.
Project Costs
At this time, the estimated cost of construction is approximately $3 million. Funding for the construction of
this project will be by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION
FEDERAL AID PROJECT
Phillipston, MA.
ROUTE 2 OVER ROUTE 2A
Project File No. 603495
This sheet is provided for your comments. Your input is solicited and appreciated.
Please return your sheet, with comments, to a staff member at the meeting, or mail to:
Frank A. Tramontozzi, P.E., Chief Engineer
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116-3973
The final date for receipt of written statements and exhibits for inclusion into the official hearing transcript
will be ten (10) days after the Public Hearing.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
____________
Name
_________________________________ Title ____________________________
Organization __________________________________________________________________
Address
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Please Fold and Tape
________________________
Please Place
Appropriate
Postage Here
________________________
________________________
Frank A. Tramontozzi, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Highway Division)
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116-3973
RE: Public Hearing
ROUTE 2 OVER ROUTE 2A
PHILLIPSTON, MA
Project File No. 603495