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

5. Some amenities will be necessary for walkers on long walking routes. It would be
appropriate to provide benches along the walk routes. The existing Amesbury Visitor Center
at 505 Main Street would be a logical place for visitor services and restrooms, and is
fortunately very close to the center ofthe bridge.
6. A new trail access ramp could be connected directly to Merrill Street and the Amesbury
Visitor Center. This ramp would connect directly with existing rest facilities and a parking
area, both ofwhich would benefit walkers. The Amesbury Visitor Center, only 1,000 feet from
the center ofthe bridge, could become a new focus for walkers, cyclists and all visitors. The
ramp could be a loop from the trail to the ground, as was done on the Maryland side ofthe
Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Washington Beltway (1-495.)
7. The Merrill Street alignment provides direct access to Salisbury and Amesbury trails. From
the Amesbury Visitor Center to Rte 110 and Rabbit Road (the Merrill Street extension), Merrill
Street could serve as the route of the shared-use path, as it provides a straight alignme~t'to
connect with both the existing Ghost Trail in Salisbury and the potential connection into the
Amesbury Riverwalk Trail. Sidewalks are already in place along the full length of the west side
of Merrill Road and the part of Rabbit Road that leads to the Ghost Trail.
8. Possible route modifications. Ifthe portion of the Whittier Bridge Trail between Main Street
and Rte 110 were not constructed directly alongside vehicular traffic on the bridge, but was
diverted by construction of a ramp to the Amesbury Visitor Center and to Merrill Street, would
there be cost savings and access benefits The cost ofthe new ramp from 1-95 to Merrill
Street may be offset by the elimination ofthe walkway directly alongside the expressway
between Main Street and Rte 110. Cost savings may also result from eliminating the parking
area at Ferry Road and the special measures required to avoid existing wetlands (such as the
bridge ofthe shared-use path) installed to avoid impacts near the NB off-ramp to Rte 110 (or
to mitigate their loss through replacement such as Wetland H). Added together, these savings
might be sufficient to build the Merrill Street pedestrian/bicycle access ramp.
9. New riverfront trail connections should be included in plans for the Whittier Bridge. On the
south side ofthe bridge, the existing network of riverfront trails is incomplete for walkers,
hikers and joggers. All planning for regional trails includes a connection between segments of
the existing 2.0 miles of Merrimack River Trail already in use. This riverfront connection can
only be made directly underneath the Whittier Bridge on the Newburyport side and MassDOT
should not preclude it by the bridge design.
10. 1-95 currently prevents connection oftwo existing trails. The existing Ghost Trail in Salisbury
and the Riverwalk Trail in Amesbury are not connected, though they should be. Both end at or
near 1-95, but the connection beneath the highway cannot currently be made because there is
a short length of privately-owned property directly beneath the highway. The construction
process of widening these highway bridges may involve use ofthis property. It would be
highly desirable ifthe state wer~ to procure the land for the construction process of
rebuilding and widening the railroad bridge. When road construction iscompleted, the land
should be made available for municipal trail use.
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