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

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

mhd.state.ma.us
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27.01.2015 Views

Street Culvert. The City of Amesbury and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have invested millions of dollars in the infrastructure of Elm Street and Route 110 including upgrading ofculverts at these locations in the last ten years. The design ofthese culverts did not incorporate additional flow from an expanded 1-95. 2. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) has indicated to the Amesbury Conservation Commission that a significant wet meadow is present within the Golden Triangle area adjacent to the 1-95 corridor between Exit 58 (Route 110) and the Intersection of 1-495 and 1-95. The city requests that the applicant provide additional information on possible impacts to the wet meadow from the increase ofthe pre-development watershed water volume to the post development watershed water volume and the subsequent decrease ofpeak flow to this area. The change in duration and quantity offlooding over time could have a detrimental effect on the conditions of the wet meadow. Reportedly, MADEP has indicated that this type of wet meadow is becoming increasingly rare within the Commonwealth. , , 3. While the storm water management plan will attenuate the peak runoff flows for the drainage system that runs through the Golden Triangle area, will the addition to the overall volume of water within the watershed, due to the increased duration of the water flow, be significant enough to cause a shift in the characteristics of the existing intermittent stream If the volume ofwater were to cause the intermittent stream to be reclassified as a perennial stream, then the Golden Triangle area would become significantly less viable for development potential. 4. Within the DEIR, the applicant indicates that two storm water basins (Basins 3A and 3B) are to be constructed directly behind Martignetti Enterprises, Inc., at 32 Merrill Street Extension. The ground surface behind the building appears to be sloping down from 1-95 to the back of the existing building. Basin 3B is proposed to be an extended detention basin and Basin 3A is proposed to be an infiltration basin. Has the applicant given thought as to what effects these basins may have on the Martignetti property during construction and with the operation and maintenance of the basins Given that the area is shallow to bedrock they are likely to be detrimentally impacted by the increased groundwater. 5. The DEIR indicates that there will be a Wetlands Mitigation Area constructed in the upland area just north ofWetlands H (located just south ofthe Salisbury off-ramp to Route Ilo-Exit 58). The excavated 4,950 SF of soil appears to create a significant slope adjacent to the location where the Shared Use Path starts to veer off to the Old Merrill Street access point and also where the modifications to the existing Exit 58 off-ramp are proposed. The city requests that the applicant review the slope soil conditions for possible stability issues during and after construction, whether or not the mitigation area is going to provide additional storm water storage, and what effects this mitigation/storage area will have (ifany) on the abutting private property. 6. The DEIR indicates that Wetland I may be hydraulically linked to a larger wetland system on the east side of Merrill Street, however no apparent connection was observed (Page 4-47 of DEIR). The wetland to the east ofMerrill Street is tidally influenced and ifthe two wetlands

are connected are there any other precautions that need to be taken to protect the wetland, the retaining walls to be constructed, or to maintain the wetlands after construction 7. The operations and maintenance of the proposed stormwater system is a significant concern to the city as most ofthe storm water basins and outlets appear to be difficult to access from areas other than the highway itself. Has an appropriate Stormwater Operation and Maintenance Manual been developed for the entire project and will they be provided to the abutting communities 8. In the DEIR, MassDOT indicates that the Route 15O-Hillside and Sparhawk Roadway Reconstruction Project, the Hines Bridge and Route 110 Widening Projects are to be completed prior to the commencement ofconstruction on the Whittier Bridge. MassDOT has not provided to the city project completion timelines for the Route 110 Widening and the Hines Bridge Construction. Additionally, the Reconstruction of Route 15O-Hillside and Sparhawk Streets has been shifted in the Merrimack Valley Planning Commissitm Transportation Improvement Program and is scheduled for construction in 2015. Knowing that the Whittier Bridge project needs to be completed by the end of 2016, has MassDOT reviewed the traffic impacts that could arise if these other projects are not completed in a timely manner 9. The DEIR indicates there will be no offsite traffic impacts on neighboring roadways or arterials and that all traffic will remain within the existing corridor. The DEIR references the use of signage to direct motorists to roadway detours during construction, indicating that traffic may be diverted to other routes. It is a concern that traffic will seek alternate routes resulting from backups during construction as speeds are reduced in the construction zones and drivers must make lane shifts as the project construction is phased. This could cause traffic impacts to other roads such as Route 110 in Amesbury and Salisbury and Route 1 in Newburyport and Salisbury. Thank you for your consideration ofthese matters. ~ iN'.r--;;;- Thatcher W. Kezer III Mayor Enclosure

are connected are there any other precautions that need to be taken to protect the wetland, the<br />

retaining walls to be constructed, or to maintain the wetlands after construction<br />

7. The operations and maintenance of the proposed stormwater system is a significant concern<br />

to the city as most ofthe storm water basins and outlets appear to be difficult to access from<br />

areas other than the highway itself. Has an appropriate Stormwater Operation and<br />

Maintenance Manual been developed for the entire project and will they be provided to the<br />

abutting communities<br />

8. In the DEIR, MassDOT indicates that the Route 15O-Hillside and Sparhawk Roadway<br />

Reconstruction Project, the Hines <strong>Bridge</strong> and Route 110 Widening Projects are to be<br />

completed prior to the commencement ofconstruction on the <strong>Whittier</strong> <strong>Bridge</strong>. MassDOT has<br />

not provided to the city project completion timelines for the Route 110 Widening and the<br />

Hines <strong>Bridge</strong> Construction. Additionally, the Reconstruction of Route 15O-Hillside and<br />

Sparhawk Streets has been shifted in the Merrimack Valley Planning Commissitm<br />

Transportation Improvement Program and is scheduled for construction in 2015. Knowing<br />

that the <strong>Whittier</strong> <strong>Bridge</strong> project needs to be completed by the end of 2016, has MassDOT<br />

reviewed the traffic impacts that could arise if these other projects are not completed in a<br />

timely manner<br />

9. The DEIR indicates there will be no offsite traffic impacts on neighboring roadways or<br />

arterials and that all traffic will remain within the existing corridor. The DEIR references the<br />

use of signage to direct motorists to roadway detours during construction, indicating that<br />

traffic may be diverted to other routes. It is a concern that traffic will seek alternate routes<br />

resulting from backups during construction as speeds are reduced in the construction zones<br />

and drivers must make lane shifts as the project construction is phased. This could cause<br />

traffic impacts to other roads such as Route 110 in Amesbury and Salisbury and Route 1 in<br />

Newburyport and Salisbury.<br />

Thank you for your consideration ofthese matters.<br />

~ iN'.r--;;;-<br />

Thatcher W. Kezer III<br />

Mayor<br />

Enclosure

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