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

Dallas W. Haines III
Attorney at Law
Admitted to
Mass. & Maine Courts
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110 Haverhill Road, Suite 521
Amesbury, Mass. 01913-2408
978.388.4646
Fax 978.388.2939
Dec. 9,2011
Ms. Pamela S. Stephenson
Div. Administrator
Attn. Damaris Santiago
Fed. Highway Admin.
55 Broadway, 10 th Fl.
Cambridge, MA 02142
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RE:
Rt. 95 Whittier Bridge replacement / Newburyport - Salisbury
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
I have been following the articles in the local paper regarding the design ofthe
new Whittier Bridge. Unfortunately I could not make either ofthe two public meetings
that were reported in the local paper.
The component ofthe bridge design that provides for pedestrian and bicycling
traffic to cross the river via this bridge intrigues me. It intrigues me for two reasons ­
public safety and added cost.
With average speeds of80 miles per hour and the use ofcell phones and
inattentiveness prevailing, putting pedestrians and bicyclists close to high speed traffic is
a very questionable concept in my view. There is already a bicycle and pedestrian path
close by at the Chain Bridge, as it used to be known, now I believe known as the Hines
Bridge, where traffic passes at a far more reasonable 30 miles per hour or so, and a far
safer means ofpedestrians and bicyclists crossing the Merrimac River. And it is not the
only bridge in this area. Not far downstream, to the east, is the Route 1 bridge.· The
bicyclists would, I'm sure, be perfectly happy continuing to take the Chain Bridge which
is in a more scenic area. It is difficult to comprehend pedestrians or bicyclists being
invited to cross the river right next to high speed traffic when another route already exists
that does not entail high speed traffic. Although the Chain Bridge is under reconstruction
it will be back in service soon, long before the Rt. 95 bridge is reconstructed.
Furthermore, I have to assume that the cost ofincorporating this additional
pedestrian and bicycle path is a significant additional cost, which ofcourse the taxpayers
must incur.