Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...

Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project FEIR
Chapter 2.0: Response to Comments on the Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report
2. Review the salt spreader routes for this area to ensure there are no overlaps. A preliminary
review of this area indicates that there are no overlaps. MassDOT is aware that New
Hampshire snow and ice equipment travels over the border to Route 286 to turn around and
head north. Contact with cognizant NH personnel have assured us that they are not applying
material on MassDOT roadways;
3. Use corrosion-inhibited liquid Magnesium Chloride for highway pre-treatment and prewetting.
Use of liquid deicers in an anti-icing manner reduce overall salt application by
working more effectively than dry salt alone, allow the roadway to clean-up quicker during a
storm event, and result in less bounce and scatter of road salt.
4. Use closed loop controllers to spread a consistent, uniform application rate of material
independent of truck speed. Controllers are capable of collecting data including speed,
direction and application rate. MassDOT snow and ice operations utilize four spreaders on I-
95 and two separate trucks to address all of the ramps within this section. All of the
equipment is outfitted with closed loop controllers. The designated used for liquid application
is outfitted similarly.
5. Conduct calibration checks of all spreader equipment working in this area to ensure they are
applying material at the maximum prescribed rate of 240 pounds per lane mile, and 20 and 8
gallons per lane mile for pre-treating and pre-wetting liquid application, respectively.
6. Institute a post storm data collection and analysis to check material usage. Excessive use of
materials will be explored further and will be addressed if the situation warrants.
Salisbury-6: Finally, the Town requests that two other items of interest to us be included within the scope of the
Project, as it is likely that the Project will involve the last major reconstruction of I-95 in several years:
1) Verification of the location of an existing water main beneath I-95, along the intersection with Main Street, and
2) Installation of two new 2-inch replacement conduits for fire alarm cables under I-95 at the intersection with Main
Street, with connection to existing utility poles on either side of the Main Street bridge. The town is encouraged to
coordinate the details of these requests with MassDOT for consideration of implementing this work into final
design/construction details.
Response: The town is encouraged to coordinate the details of these requests with MassDOT for
consideration of implementing this work into final design/construction details.
2.4.4 Jack Bailey, Amesbury Harbormaster
Mr. Bailey, the Amesbury Harbormaster, submitted an undated ―tweet‖ to the MassDOT Twitter page
during the EA/DEIR comment period.
JB-1: I'm very concerned with the two navigational channels running under the bridge. With three piers instead of
four, the channels aren't in the middle of the spans and will require more navigational markers showing the
obstructions.
Response: The comment is noted. MassDOT recognizes the concerns expressed by the Amesbury
Harbormaster. The US Coast Guard Bridge Permit and MassDEP Chapter 91 License applications
include proposed navigational lighting and obstruction marking measures to ensure that the
channels are adequately marked. MassDOT will install any required navigational markers in the
Merrimack River.
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