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
widening the railroad bridge. When road construction is completed, the land should be made available for municipal
trail use.
Response: MassDOT has determined that the requested acquisition of the former railroad ROW
under I-95 to enable a future connection between the Powow River trail in Amesbury and the Ghost
Trail in Salisbury is beyond the scope of the Whittier Bridge project. The proposed widening and
reconstruction of the I-95 bridges over the railroad ROW will not impede future development of a
connection between Powow River and Ghost trails. The connection of the Powow River and Ghost
Trails is an independent project that can be subsequently pursued by the municipalities through
regular project development process. It would not be precluded by this project.
2.6 CITIZEN COMMENTS
Comment letters were also received from several individual citizens in the project area.
2.6.1 Alphonse Sevigny
Mr. Alphonse Sevigny submitted a letter dated December 11, 2011.
AS-1: The following comments are submitted in support of the project subject to clarification of the Stormwater
Report dated November 16, 2011 and stormwater being discharged into the area between I-95 and I-495 in
Amesbury and Salisbury, Massachusetts. This area is in the limit of work and is shown on your project locus plan as
Design Point-5 and Design Point-6 and possibly others. This water flows by means of the Harrison Fowler Brook into
and beyond the referenced 289 Elm Street and referenced 100 Macy Street (State culverts) and into the Powow
River. I'm only referencing the 155 acre watershed but the 135 acre watershed flows by another culvert on Elm
Street. It should be noted that time or other may have changed flow patterns for this combined 290 acre watershed.
Response: The comment is noted.
AS-2: I am in support of the project and have some concerns. This project may be holding back MassDOT Notice of
Intent # 002-1044 for the Elm Street culvert improvement due to Amesbury Conservation Commission concerns and
others. Concerns due to possible additional flow into the project locus shown on your Locus Plan. The area [of] DP5
and DP6 is shown and others below.
Response: The areas referenced in the comment are located outside the limits of the I-95 ROW and
are beyond the scope of the project.
MassDOT District 4 has prepared a drainage analysis of the culverts at Elm Street and Rocky Hill
Road as a separate project from the Whittier Bridge project and has evaluated mitigation measures
to address Amesbury‘s concerns.
MassDOT District 4 has submitted three separate Requests for Determination of Applicability (RDA)
for the cleaning of the drainage system and swales in this area. The RDAs will be reviewed by the
Amesbury Conservation Commission on March 19, 2012. If the commission votes to issue Negative
Determinations, the District would be able to perform that work within a month of receiving the
Negative Determination. The timing may change due to site conditions but will be performed this
spring.
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