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Senator Moore brings key officials together to discuss Rice City Pond Bridge repairs |
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December 15, 2005 – More than two months after the state closed the portion of East Hartford Avenue over the dam at Rice City Pond in Uxbridge, local officials today received assurances from the two state agencies with jurisdiction over the weakened structure that they are working quickly to reopen this critical roadway. At a meeting convened by Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge), senior officials from the Massachusetts Highway Department and the Department of Conservation and Recreation briefed town leaders on their progress. MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky and DCR Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Engineering Karst Hoogeboom both restated their agency’s commitment to address the major structural issues with both the dam and roadway. Both officials agreed that barring unforeseen complications, the road should be open by mid-January. Joining Moore, Paiewonsky and Hoogeboom at the meeting in the senator’s office were Harry Romasco, chairman of the Uxbridge Board of Selectman, Irving Priest, Assistant Superintendent of Public Works in Uxbridge, Thomas Waruzila, Assistant Secretary of the Executive Office of Transportation, Bill Salomaa, Director of the state’s Office of Dam Safety, Bethann Steiner, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Patrice Kish, DCR’s Director of Historic Resources. An aide to Representative Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton) was also in attendance. In October, extensive rain caused such serious damage to the Rice City Pond dam that safety officials ordered the portion of East Hartford Avenue above it closed. However, the closure of the road to east-west traffic has increased the traffic burden on Route 16 through Uxbridge center, and has added to the transport time for ambulances moving patients from Tri-River Health Center to Milford Regional Medical Center. In addition to the assurance to reopen the roadway, the group also discussed long-term repairs for the dam. Deputy Commissioner Hoogeboom stated that a major overhaul of the dam was already scheduled prior to the flooding and DCR has now accelerated its plans, which should be completed in the next three to five years. Afterwards, the Senator said he was pleased with the meeting’s outcome and that the Romney administration is working aggressively to address the situation in Uxbridge. Senator Moore also pledged to continue to monitor the progress of the repairs and keep local officials and residents informed. For more information on Senator Moore’s work in the Senate, visit his web site at senatormoore.com |
