Design Public Hearing
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
7:00 P.M.
Morse Elementary School
40 Granite Street
Cambridge, MA
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Patrick-Murray Accelerated Bridge Program
Program Overview
• Authorization:
– Chapter 233 of the Acts of 2008
– Program to be complete by 2016
• Program Goals:
– Improve the Condition of the Commonwealth's Bridges
– Stimulate Economic Development and Job Creation
– Save Money by Completing Projects Sooner
– Complete Projects Efficiently and Innovatively
– Provide Access and Opportunity for all
– Manage with Transparency and Accountability
Size and Scope
• Rehabilitation or replacement of 218 bridges
• Preservation of 355 bridges
MassDOT Total Program: $2,984,000,000
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Agenda
• Review of the Patrick-Murray Accelerated Bridge
Program
• Charles River Basin Overview
• Existing Conditions
• Structural Sketch Plans
• Traffic
• Bicycle/ Pedestrian
• Environmental Considerations
• Historical/ Cultural Considerations
• Question & Answer
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Project Location
Anderson
Memorial Bridge
Western Avenue
Bridges
Craigie
Drawbridge and
Dam Bridge
River Street
Bridges
Longfellow
Bridge
B. U. Bridge
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation
Project Goals
To rehabilitate the River Street and Western
Avenue Bridges to continue to efficiently and
safely meet the needs of the traveling public,
while maintaining their structural integrity,
preserving their historic nature, and improving
the needs of all users including motorists,
cyclists, pedestrians, and recreational boaters.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
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Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Design Goals and Parameters
• Design Goals
– Structural
• Maintain Historic Appearance, while upgrading bridge features to
current codes and standards
• Repair Parapets, Spandrel Walls, and the Arches
– Final Condition Multi-Use Facilities
• Three Vehicular Traffic Lanes
• Improve non-motorized user facilities
– Construction Conditions
• Maintain two Vehicular Traffic Lanes
• Maintain Pedestrian and Bicycle access to the bridge
• Maintain two unobstructed navigation channels, coordinated
between both arch bridges, through the arches at all times
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Bridges
CAMBRIDGE
NORTH
BOSTON
CHARLES RIVER
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Bridges
BOSTON
CAMBRIDGE
NORTH
CHARLES RIVER
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Existing Conditions
River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
• Arch Barrels
– Widespread Spalling and
Delamination of Concrete
– High Concentrations of Chloride
Content which may promote Steel
Reinforcement Corrosion
– Lack of Air-Entrainment (Common
in 1920’s), Concrete More
Susceptible to Freeze/Thaw effects
– Minor Alkali Silica Reactivity which
will continue to accelerate in moist
environment
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Existing Conditions
Western Avenue Arch Bridge over Charles River
• Arch Barrels
– Minor Localized Spalling and
Delamination of Concrete
– Low to Moderate Concentrations of
Chloride Content which may promote
Steel Reinforcement Corrosion
– Lack of Air-Entrainment (Common in
1920’s), Concrete More Susceptible
to Freeze/Thaw effects
– Minor Alkali Silica Reactivity which
will continue to accelerate in moist
environment
– Localized Moderate Cracking and
Efflorescence near Southern Portion
of Cambridge Arch (Beneath Water
Mains)
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Existing Conditions
River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
• Arch Ringstones (Voussoirs)
– Separation of Ringstones from
Arch Barrels (Up to 3”)
– Deterioration of dowels anchoring
Ringstones into Arch Barrels
represent a falling hazard
– Widespread Deterioration of
Ringstone Concrete
• Spandrel Walls
– Massive Gravity Retaining Walls
– Outward Movement Detected
– Widespread Deterioration of
Concrete
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Existing Conditions
Western Avenue Arch Bridge over Charles River
• Arch Ringstones (Voussoirs)
– Cast against the original arch
barrel by “cold joint”
– Different concrete material than
arch barrel. Breakup is evident at
the interface of the two concrete
materials. This represents a falling
hazard.
• Spandrel Walls
– Cast integrally with the arch barrel
near the piers
– Minor Outward Movement
Detected
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Existing Conditions
River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
•
Concrete Parapet and Sidewalk
– Parapet (Railing) shows misalignment
due to movement of spandrel wall
– Parapet is not capable of resisting
vehicular impact
– Concrete sidewalk is non-reinforced
and deteriorating
– Due to Spandrel Wall movement,
Sidewalk cross-slope has deteriorated
•
Abutments, Piers, Wingwalls
– Deterioration of timber piles supporting
wingwalls causing settlement cracking
– Widespread Deterioration of Concrete
Piers and Cutwaters
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Existing Conditions
Western Avenue Arch Bridge over Charles River
•
Concrete Parapet and Sidewalk
– Parapet (Railing) shows minor
misalignment due to movement of
spandrel wall
– Parapet is not capable of resisting
vehicular impact
– Concrete sidewalk is non-reinforced
– Due to Spandrel Wall movement,
Sidewalk cross-slope is deteriorating
•
Abutments, Piers, Wingwalls
– Deterioration of Concrete, especially on
Cambridge Side
– Deterioration of Concrete Piers and
Cutwaters
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Existing Conditions
River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
Existing Cross-Section
Above – Existing Section
through the Quarter Point of
the Center Arch
Left – Existing Section through
the south sidewalk near the
Quarter Point of the Center
Arch
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Bridge
Existing Cross-Section
•Existing Cross Section through
Parapet, Spandrel Wall, Arch
Ring, Sidewalk, Roadway, and
Utilities.
•Existing Conditions will need to
be Upgraded from Original
Design to meet current load and
vehicular impact requirements.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Cambridge Street Existing Conditions
Cambridge Street over Soldiers Field Road
• Concrete Tee Beams and Deck
– Evidence of Shear Failure near the
southwest corner
– Below Statutory Load Rating of the
Concrete Deck and Tee Beams
adjacent to Concrete Encased
Utilities
– Moderate Concrete Deterioration
present throughout the bridge
• Sidewalks and Railings
– Localized Deterioration of
Sidewalks, particularly at the
corners
– Existing Railing is not capable of
resisting a vehicular impact
– Sidewalk access is not ADA
Compliant
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Existing Conditions
Western Avenue over Soldiers Field Road
• Concrete Tee Beams and Deck
– Below Statutory Load Rating of the
Concrete Deck and Tee Beams
adjacent to Concrete Encased
Utilities
– Moderate Concrete Deterioration
present throughout the bridge
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Cambridge Street Proposed Rehab. Concept
Elevation: Cambridge Street over Soldiers Field Road
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Cambridge Street Proposed Rehab. Concept
Cross-Section: Cambridge Street over Soldiers Field Road
-Precast Concrete Northeast Extreme Tee (NEXT) Beams
-Maintain three vehicular travel lanes
-Installation of Grade Separated Cycle Track and Sidewalk Widening
-Installation of Crash-Resistant Barrier and Refurbishment/Reinstallation of
Existing Bridge Fascia Rail
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Proposed Rehab. Concept
Elevation: Western Avenue over Soldiers Field Road
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Proposed Rehab. Concept
Cross-Section: Western Avenue over Soldiers Field Road
-Precast Concrete Northeast Extreme Tee (NEXT) Beams
-Maintain three vehicular travel lanes
-Installation of Grade Separated Cycle Track and Sidewalk Widening
-Installation of Crash-Resistant Barrier and Refurbishment/Reinstallation of
Existing Bridge Fascia Rail
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Staged Construction: Bridges over Soldiers Field Road
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Elevation: River Street over the Charles River
Design Features
•New Reinforced Concrete
Parapet
•New Spandrel Walls
•New Arch Ring Stones
•New Pile Supported
Retaining Walls (Wingwalls)
•New Sidewalks
•New Roadway
•Repaired Piers & Abutments
•Repaired Concrete Arch
Barrels
•Corner Expansion at
Southwest Corner (“The
Narrows”
All proposed features are
designed to restore the
bridge to its historic
appearance.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Cross-Section: River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
Design Features
•Controlled Density Fill
•Moment Slab Sidewalk
Design for Impact
Resistance
•Structural Concrete
Frame Spandrels
•New Roadway and
Concrete Slab
•Widened NonMotorized Facilities and
Dedicated Cycle Track
•Maintain 3 Motor
Vehicle Traffic Lanes
•Repaired Piers
•New Bridge Street
Lighting consistent with
historic street lighting
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Cross-Section: River Street Arch Bridge over Charles River
Design Features
•Controlled Density Fill
•Moment Slab Sidewalk
Design for Impact Resistance
•New Roadway and Concrete
Slab
•Widened Non-Motorized
Facilities and Dedicated Cycle
Track
•Maintain 3 Motor Vehicle
Traffic Lanes
•Repaired Abutments and
New Pile Supported
Wingwalls
•New Bridge Street Lighting
consistent with historic street
lighting
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Ave Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Ave Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Elevation: Western Avenue over the Charles River
Design Features
•New Reinforced Concrete
Parapet
•New Spandrel Walls
•New Arch Ring Stones
•New Sidewalks
•New Roadway
•Repaired Piers &
Abutments
•Repaired Retaining Walls
(Wingwalls)
•Repaired Concrete Arch
Barrels
All proposed features are
designed to restore the
bridge to its historic
appearance.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Ave Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Cross-Section: Western Avenue Arch Bridge over Charles River
Design Features
•Controlled Density Fill
•Moment Slab Sidewalk
Design for Impact
Resistance
•Structural Concrete
Frame Spandrels
•New Roadway and
Concrete Slab
•Widened NonMotorized Facilities and
Dedicated Cycle Track
•Maintain 3 Motor
Vehicle Traffic Lanes
•Repaired Piers
•New Bridge Street
Lighting consistent with
historic street lighting
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Ave Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Final Cross-Section: Western Avenue Arch Bridge over Charles River
Design Features
•Controlled Density Fill
•Moment Slab Sidewalk
Design for Impact Resistance
•New Roadway and Concrete
Slab
•Widened Non-Motorized
Facilities and Dedicated
Cycle Track
•Maintain 3 Motor Vehicle
Traffic Lanes
•Repaired Abutments and
New Pile Supported
Wingwalls
•New Bridge Street Lighting
consistent with historic street
lighting
Lower Cross-Section is
through the Abutment,
looking East
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Staged Construction: Arch Bridges over Charles River
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Proposed Rehabilitation Concept
Staged Construction: Arch Bridges over Charles River
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Traffic - River Street Bridge
Existing peak hour volumes on the River Street Bridge
AM (PM)
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Traffic - River Street Bridge
•
River Street Existing Conditions
– AM Peak has highest volumes
– Coordinated with 140s cycles
•
River St./Memorial Dr.
– EB right turns heavy during AM
• Queue often reaches SFR
•
River St./Soldiers Field Rd.
– Phasing constantly processes
vehicles onto the River Street
bridge.
SimTraffic of River Street during the morning peak hour
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Traffic - Western Avenue Bridge
Existing peak hour volumes on the Western Avenue Bridge
Soldiers Field Road
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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359 (601)
Memorial Drive
AM (PM)
Traffic - Western Avenue Bridge
•
Western Avenue Existing
Conditions
– PM Peak has highest volumes
– Coordinated with 90s cycles
•
Western Ave./Soldiers Field Rd.
– WB right turns heavy during PM
•
Western Ave./Memorial Drive
– Phasing constantly processes
vehicles onto the Western
Avenue bridge.
SimTraffic of Western Avenue during the evening peak hour
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Traffic – Proposed Improvements
• Pavement Markings and Signage
• New striping to clearly define lanes
• Improve lane utilization and
capacity
• Reduce likelihood of vehicle
conflicts
• New signage
• Assist driver navigation
• Reduce confusion
• New Traffic Signal Equipment
• Overhead vehicle indications – mast-arms and span wires
• Improve visibility of vehicle indications
• Indications for Pedestrians and Bicyclists
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Traffic – Proposed Improvements
• Traffic Signal Operations
• Updated clearance times for all modes
• Reduce likelihood of crashes
• Conform to current design standards
• Improved traffic signal phasing
• Optimize the capacity at each signal
• Reduce conflicting movements
• Increase the amount of concurrent bike and pedestrian
phases
• Enhance Signal Coordination
• Better progression between signals
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Existing Pedestrian/Bicycle Conditions
•
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Lack of ADA compliance
Lack of pedestrian signal indications
Varying path widths
Narrow sidewalks
Insufficient queuing space at intersections
Lack of bicycle accommodations
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Existing Pedestrian/Bicycle Counts Data
• Functional Design Report
Turning Movement Counts
– December 2009
– February 2010
– September 2010
• Other Projects: Charles
River Basin Pedestrian
and Bicycle Study for
Pathways and Bridges
–
–
–
–
–
September 2009
May 2010
September 2010
May 2011
September 2011
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Bridge Bicyclists’ Location
67%
33%
76%
24%
70%
30%
73%
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Summary of Count Data
• Varied by day and season
• Bridge non-motorized volumes similar to path volumes
• Majority of bicyclists on bridges are traveling with the
flow of traffic
• River Street Bridge:
~ 40% bicyclists
~ 60% pedestrians and joggers
• Western Avenue Bridge:
~ 35% bicyclists
~ 65% pedestrians and joggers
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Project Context
•
Functional Design Report – December 2010
–
–
–
•
On-street Bicycle Lanes Option
On-street Cycle Track Option
Off-street Shared Use Path
Adjacent Facilities Determined – Winter 2011
Existing and Planned
Bicycle Facilities
Shared Use Path
Cycle Track
Shared Roadway
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Cycle Tracks
• Physically separated from
motorists and pedestrians
• Higher level of comfort for
bicyclists
• Special intersection treatments
• Currently cycle tracks are installed
in:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cambridge, MA
Boston, MA
Washington, DC
New York City, NY
Minneapolis, MN
Portland, OR
Photo by Tom Bertulis
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Bicycle Facility Type
• Off-street Cycle Track
• Speed differential between users
• Existing usage patterns
• Sight Lines
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
• Right Turn Conflicts
• Facility Continuity
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Grade Separated Pedestrian Underpasses
River Street Bridge over Charles River – Typical Configuration
-Underpass path design parameters are as
specified in 2006 Massachusetts Highway
Department PD&DG
-Due to vertical clearance issues, the
pathway grade is set at Ordinary High Water
Elevation requiring Box Culvert concrete
boat section
-30” Utility Inverted Syphon section below
the Box Culvert tunnel required
RED AREA represents
open water fill
encroachment into
Charles River to
support approach
paths
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Grade Separated Pedestrian Underpasses
Western Avenue Bridge over Charles River – Cambridge Side
-Underpass path design parameters are as
specified in 2006 Massachusetts Highway
Department PD&DG
-Due to vertical clearance issues, the pathway
grade is set at Ordinary High Water Elevation
requiring Box Culvert concrete boat section
-Horizontal space restrictions force the tunnel
behind the bridge abutment, moving the
esplanade path towards Memorial Drive,
eliminating the existing landscaped buffer
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Grade Separated Pedestrian Underpasses
Project Impacts
• Grade Separated Pedestrian Underpasses will not be
implemented as part of this project
– Cost
• Preliminary Estimate of Underpass Tunnels = $16 Million
– Environmental / Cultural Resources Impacts
• Grade Separated Pedestrian Underpasses would result in an “Adverse
Effect” determination under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966
• At-grade improvements currently proposed would likely result in a
determination of “No Adverse Effect”
• The Section 106 process requires consultation to resolve the “Adverse
Effect” by seeking prudent and feasible alternatives to avoid, minimize or
mitigate the Adverse Effect. The at-grade improvements shown in the 25%
design would be considered a prudent and feasible alternative to avoid the
Adverse Effect.
• An Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) permit cannot be granted until a
determination of No Adverse Effect is made or a Memorandum of Agreement
with the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) is executed.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Intersection Corner Improvements
Western Avenue/Soldiers Field Road
Western Avenue/Memorial Drive
Soldiers
Field Rd
Memorial Dr
Boston
River Street/Soldiers Field Road
River Street/Memorial Drive
Boston
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
Cambridge
Cambridge
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue – “Pork Chop”
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
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•
Guides all EB vehicles
to turn right
•
Prevent vehicles from
traveling across
Western Ave in wrong
direction
•
Pedestrian and bike
refuge
•
Reduces the number of
phases per cycle and
therefore reduces the
amount of delay for all
users
•
Retaining large strain
pole and foundation
River Street / SF Road – “The Narrows”
South Approach to River Street Bridge – Boston Side
Existing
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
Proposed
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River Street / SF Road – “The Narrows”
Existing Conditions
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street / SF Road – “The Narrows”
Proposed Conditions
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Charles River Crossings
Charles River Path Crossing Summary
Crossing Time
Intersection
Crossing Distance
Existing
Proposed
Change
Existing
Proposed
Change
19 sec
35 sec
+16 sec
55 ft
46 ft
- 9 ft
River Street @
Soldiers Field Road
—
21 sec
+21 sec
57 ft
33 ft
-24 ft
Western Avenue @
Memorial Drive
19 sec
19 s
0
54 ft
40 ft
-14 ft
Western Avenue @
Soldiers Field Road
19 sec
41 sec
+22 sec
56 ft
40 ft
-16 ft
River Street @
Memorial Drive
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue Proposed Design
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street/Soldiers Field Road
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street/Memorial Drive
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street – Existing Cross Section
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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River Street – Proposed Cross Section
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue – Existing Cross Section
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Western Avenue – Proposed Cross Section
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Overall Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements
•
•
•
•
•
•
All new signal equipment and timings
All crosswalks will include pedestrian indications
Improve queue space at corners
Widened ramps at trail crossings
Widened sidewalks
Improved signage & Way finding
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Landscape Approach
MEMORIAL DRIVE
• Proposed landscape impacts
along the Charles River Basin
Reservation are primarily isolated
to areas adjacent to the bridges.
• Temporary Disturbance Areas
(TDA) total ~ 0.07 acres of land.
• Provide landscape restoration in
impacted areas primarily by
control of invasive plant species,
restoring grass, and 2:1
replacement of trees.
• Include design details to protect
the bridge structure by
discouraging woody plants from
establishing at the base of
abutments.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Regulatory Requirements
• Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
• Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and
regulations at 310 CMR 11.00 – Informational ENF
• MA Wetlands Protection Act - Order of Conditions from
Boston and Cambridge Conservation Commissions
• Clean Water Act/Rivers and Harbors Act - Army Corps
Permit
• Clean Water Act - MassDEP 401 Water Quality Certificate
• Public Waterfront Act (MGL Chapter 91) – Minor Modification
• MA DCR Construction Access Permit
• MWRA 8(m) Permit
• United States Coast Guard Construction Approval Letter
• US EPA NPDES Permit
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Avoiding Adverse Effects Under s. 106
•
Project Team will work to achieve a finding of “No Adverse
Effect” through the following efforts:
– Section 106 Consultation with Massachusetts Historical
Commission, Cambridge Historical Commission, and
Boston Landmarks Commission throughout design and
construction process.
– Application of Secretary of the Interior Standards for
Rehabilitation:
• Preserve historic character;
• Avoid conjectural historical elements;
• Maintain distinctive materials, features, finishes and
construction techniques;
• Repair or replace elements with matching materials;
• Use gentlest possible chemical and physical treatments;
• Identify and preserve the relationship of
a property to its setting; and
• Preserve surrounding landscapes and visual
relationships with surrounding properties.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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Identification of Historic Properties
•
•
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
Western Avenue Bridge (1924, Desmond & Lord) and River
Street Bridge (1926, Robert Bellows & Ralph W. Gray)
– Concrete bridges with cast stone ornament.
– Contributing resources to Charles River Basin National
Register Historic District (CRBHD).
– Engineered by John Rablin, Metropolitan District
Commission (MDC).
– Invitational design competition: “the best a cultured
community can create”.
– Beaux Arts design supported vision of Charles River
Basin as recreational and scenic amenity.
– Architectural treatments, including the solid concrete
parapets, are significant character-defining features.
Charles River Basin National Register Historic District
(listed 1978)
– Major component of greater Boston parks system,
conceived by Charles Eliot, 1st park system realized in
US.
– Potential for visual impacts to CRBHD contributing
resources near bridges.
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To submit comments or request more
information, please contact:
Thomas Broderick, P.E., Chief Engineer
Attn: Shoukry A. Elnahal, P.E
Director of Accelerated Bridge Program
Massachusetts Department of Transportation - Highway Division
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
617-973-7800
To be added to the project distribution database, please contact:
Stephanie Boundy, Public Outreach Coordinator
MassDOT, Accelerated Bridge Program
617-973-8049 or Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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For More Information
ABP website:
www.mass.gov/acceleratedbridges
For news and updates visit our website
www.mass.gov/massdot,
blog at
www.mass.gov/blog/transportation
or follow us on twitter at
www.twitter.com/massdot.
River Street and Western Avenue
Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Design Public Hearing
March 13, 2012
HARDESTY & HANOVER, LLP
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