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

Deval L. Patrick
GOVERNOR
rJJie Commonwea[tli of9vfassacliusetts
t£~ecutive
Office oft£nergg andt£nmronmenta[J1Lffairs
100 Cambridge Street l Suite 900
t]3oston l :MJI. 02114
Timothy P. Murray
LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR
Richard K. Sullivan. Jr.
SECRETARY
Tel: (617) 626-1000
Fax: (617) 626-1181
http://www.mass.gov/envir
December 30, 2011
CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
ON THE
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
PROJECT NAME
PROJECT MUNICIPALITY
PROJECT WATERSHED
EEANUMBER
PROJECT PROPONENT
DATE NOTICED IN MONITOR
: Whittier Bridge 1-95 Improvement Project
: Newburyport, Amesbury, and Salisbury
: Merrimack
: 14427
: Massachusetts Department ofTransportation
: November 23, 2011
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) (M.G.L. c. 30, ss. 61­
621) and Section 11.08 of the MEPA regulations (301 CMR 11.00), I hereby determine that the
Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) submitted on this project adequately and properly
complies with MEPA and its implementing regulations. The Proponent should prepare a Final
Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) as detailed in the Scope below.
Project Description
As described in the DEIR, the proposed project involves the replacement ofthe existing
structurally deficient six-lane John GreenleafWhittier Memorial Bridge (Whittier Bridge) on
Interstate 95 (1-95) over the Merrimack River. The project will include the construction of two
new four-lane bridges and the widening of4.25 miles of1-95 to eight lanes from north of the 1­
951R0ute 113 Interchange to just north ofthe 1-495 entrance ramp in Newburyport, Amesbury,
and Salisbury. The project proposes to add two lanes to 1-95 and the bridge crossing to provide a
consistent eight-lane configuration along the 1-95 corridor within the project area. As stated in
the DEIR, the purposes ofthe project are: to replace the structurally deficient bridge and provide