MassDOT Sets Public Hearing on Rehab of Route 18 Bridges

A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the New Bedford Route I-195 to Route 18 Interchange Rehabilitation. The hearing is set for Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the New Bedford Public Library's downtown branch.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed New Bedford Route I-195 to Route 18 Interchange Rehabilitation Project.  All views and comments made at the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL: The proposed project consists of the rehabilitation and replacement of the existing viaduct bridge structure that carries Interstate I-195 over the Route 18 interchange, Mass Coastal Railroad, Mt. Pleasant Street, Purchase Street, State Street, and Weld Street. Once the project has been completed, the I-195 interchange will feature new signage and lighting to enhance daytime and nighttime visibility, new drainage, and safety enhancements such as wider auxiliary lanes for weaving, longer deceleration lanes, road shoulders, and safer roadside barriers. Aged, damaged guardrail will be replaced.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions of permanent or temporary easements may be required. MassDOT is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this meeting.

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 Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 606527. 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

 In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet athttp://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/. A snow date for this meeting has been scheduled for March 19, 2019, at the same time and location.

Information from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation