Mitchell Has Laundry List of Priorities Before Southcoast Rail

With Southcoast Rail's future still cloudy, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell says the State could focus on other housekeeping items in the interim.

Speaking on his weekly radio program, Mitchell says the replacement of the more-than-a-century-old New Bedford/Fairhaven Bridge is at the top of his wish-list. "We have a whaling-era bridge in the middle of our harbor that impedes the flow of vehicular traffic, it impedes the flow of marine traffic, and creates an economic burden on this whole region, all of Greater New Bedford," said Mitchell.

Mitchell says replacement of the bridge would open up pathways for other business opportunities in the north end of the harbor.

Mitchell continued with a laundry list of fix-its, including dredging of the harbor and repairs to State Pier, all of which he says pale in comparison to the cost of Southcoast Rail.