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Moore, Fernandes Announce Reopening of
Traffic over Mill Street Bridge January 27, 2008, Hopedale...After many months of extended construction time, redrafts of designs, and environmental delays, the Mill Street Bridge in Hopedale has been reopened for automobile access. Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, have been working tirelessly with the Massachusetts Highway Department in ensuring the speediest reopening possible for the bridge, after facing many obstacles throughout the reconstruction process. “After vigorously working with contractors and architects for over a year, it is a relief to finally announce the reopening of traffic over the Mill Street Bridge in Hopedale,” Sen. Moore remarked. “While the ideal time of reopening the bridge was not met, I am happy to see that residents of Hopedale and Mendon will no longer have to seek an alternate route over Mill Street. I commend Rep. Fernandes for his equally shared efforts in making sure that every setback with this project was placed back on track,” said Moore. “I look forward to continue working with the Representative and the Massachusetts Highway Department in guaranteeing the completion of this project.” The Mill Street Bridge project has met the ire of local residents after beginning in 2007, due to construction delays from design complications. The move to halt construction in March of 2008 came when water levels reached dangerous new heights, and the Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety instructed the Massachusetts Highway Department that a newly designed structure was required to protect local residents from flooding. “I am greatly relieved that the Mill Street Bridge is finally reopened to traffic, reuniting people on the Mendon side of the bridge with Hopedale proper,” said Rep. Fernandes. “This bridge project was designed and scheduled before I took office and its execution was an eye-opener for me about the need to change the way the transportation repair system works in Massachusetts. Sen. Moore and I were in constant contact with Mass Highway pushing for an advanced construction schedule,” Fernandes continued. “As a member of the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee, I often find myself referencing to all that went wrong with the process of the reconstruction of this bridge as an example of the need to change the way we do business in Massachusetts. That being said, the fear of closure or collapse of the bridge necessitating reconstruction was real. It was important to get the work done and it is my hope that the extent of the repairs and reconstruction done by Mass Highway will assure that the bridge will not need major work again for decades to come,” Fernandes concluded. Though reopened for traffic, construction will continue on the bridge, as the roadway is only temporary. Pavement of the road should convene within the near future, pending weather conditions throughout the remainder of the winter. Fortunately, traffic will continue to pass over the bridge from this point forward, with only temporary back-ups during the final construction phase. For additional information, please contact Jared Cain in Sen. Moore’s office, at 617-722-1420. |
