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
Response: The ―barriers‖ referenced in the comment are actually retaining walls constructed for the
connection between the Shared-Use Path and Ferry Road in Newburyport. They are not noise
barriers and are not intended to match the elevation of the snow fence along the I-95 northbound
roadway adjacent to the Whittier Point condominiums in Amesbury.
2.7.9 Bill Posner, Mass Bike Coalition
MBC-1: Supports the project.
Response: The comment is noted.
2.7.10 Evan Karp, Newburyport
EK-1: It was mentioned that the (Pine Hill/Ferry Road) bridge is moving back to where it was in the seventies or
something. I was just curious what that was, just curious how it affects my house.
Response: The relocated bridge will be constructed entirely within the existing highway layout and
will not intrude on Mr. Karp‘s property. As noted, the bridge will be relocated to its previous
alignment.
2.7.11 Karen Amundsen, Amesbury
KA-1: I reside at Whittier Point and I just wanted to mention that presently the construction with the Hines Bridge, or
as you call it the Chain Bridge, for over a year now it's been -- I haven't had the need for an alarm clock for six days a
week. And also, it sounds as if there's not going to be a need until the 2016. But at any rate, aside from that I'd like to
ask your -- how are your plans for the storage of the equipment and the -- during the construction Because the
abundance -- now, if you look at the present with the small -- the small bridge, you know, small construction with the
Hines Bridge but yet there's an abundance of construction vehicles all over the place, lots of lots of things, and now I
see -- this is small in comparison to what we're going to be faced with and I'd like to know what your plans are and
where you're going to put all of the construction materials and debris and so forth.
Response: MassDOT will require the design/build contractor to identify staging area locations along
the project alignment for approval prior to construction. The nature of the project construction allows
for use of closed sections of the I-95 roadway for staging. In addition, the majority of the new bridge
construction will be performed from barges to be located in the Merrimack River.
KA-2: In addition to the -- well, that's primarily my concern as well as on a pure personal side I'd like for you to
address the migration patterns with regards to the wildlife, the bald eagles because that's a very popular area to
come to view the bald eagles which we will no longer enjoy.
Response: MassDOT has coordinated with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered
Species program on the potential impacts of the project on wildlife habitat in the project area. As
noted in the NHESP letter to the conservation commissions of December 2, 2011, ―NHESP finds that
this project, as currently proposed, will not cause adverse effects to the habitat of state-listed rare
wildlife‖ including the Bald Eagle.
Construction of the new Whittier Bridges will result in the relocation of the bridge abutments 50 feet
inland on both banks of the Merrimack River, providing an enhanced wildlife corridor along the river.
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