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Major milestones in the bridge replacement
will include:
- Basic design: Fall 2008 - Winter 2009/2010
- 25% design and permitting: Spring 2010 - Winter 2011/2012
- Creation of the design/build package: Winter 2011/2012
- current phase
- Award of design/build contract: Summer 2012
- Completion of construction of the new bridge and demolition
of the temporary span: 2016.
Detail of the Current Phase
The project is currently in the 25% design phase. This
part of the project addresses:
- Coordination with stakeholders;
- Evaluation of the movable span and approach structure types;
- Selection of a preferred alternative;
- Preparation and public review of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA)
filing;
- Establishment of permitting requirements;
- Advance design, construction staging, and traffic
management plans to the 25% level; and
- Preparation of the design/build procurement package.
A vertical lift bridge with a proposed channel width
of 250’ has been selected by MassDOT as the preferred
alternative. Currently,
the project team is continuing its coordination efforts with
stakeholders and
local officials in evaluating aesthetic and lighting details for the
preferred
alternative. The preferred alternative
was selected by MassDOT based on the following criteria:
The preferred alternative was selected
by MassDOT based on the
following criteria:
- Minimum acceptable channel width set by the United
States Coast Guard;
- The best closed position vertical clearance to minimize
openings;
- Initial construction cost;
- Life cycle costs to maintain the structure;
- Overall construction duration;
- Avoiding and minimizing impacts to users of the bridge;
- Input from Federal agencies; and
- Community feedback.
The
Federal Highway Administration is the lead permitting agency for the
new Fore River Bridge with The United
States Coast Guard acting as a cooperating agency. The project will
comply with
the Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement developed during the demolition
of the
1936 bridge.
Since the new Fore River Bridge replaces a
previous structure in-kind (known as a “footprint bridge”)
the project is exempt from the Wetlands Protection Act and
the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), but must follow the
similar National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An Environmental
Assessment was prepared and submitted to FHWA to document this
compliance.
Elements of the assessment include:
- Gathering of baseline data on elements such
as air quality and ambient noise in the project area;
- Alternatives analysis to identify a
preferred
alternative; and
- Development of a plan to mitigate
construction impacts, including timing construction so as not to have
unacceptable impacts on fish migration and spawning in the Fore
River.
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PROJECT
TIME LINE