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Indian Neck residents and businessmen are relieved that the state plans to replace the 1921 bridge that spans Sybil Creek, but they would like the plans to include more improvements for pedestrian and traffic safety.
Several people said the intersection is dangerous because the sightline is limited and the sidewalks don’t extend far enough. They are asking why the $2.8 million project can’t include a few more safety provisions.
About 50 people attended the state Department of Transportation meeting about the bridge at the Fire Headquarters Tuesday night.
Diana Stricker Photo
Perry Maresca, chair of the town’s Economic Development Commission (pictured), said new businesses are coming to the area, in addition to longstanding ones like Lenny’s. “It’s become a nice little village again,” he said, adding that sidewalks need to be extended. “That’s a really bad corner,” he said.
The bridge is on South Montowese Street (Route 146), just north of where the road divides into Linden Avenue and Sybil Avenue.
“If it’s a walkable community, it will benefit everyone,” Maresca said as he made a plea for the DOT to consider adding more sidewalks, instead of just ones along the bridge.
Engineer’s Response
Diana Stricker Photo
Sal Cugno (pictured), an engineer with Close Jensen & Miller, said the sightline will be slightly improved. “We’re also realigning the intersection of Linden Avenue,” he said, adding that town officials requested it.
Cugno said they will also look at the possibility of extending the sidewalks more, but that the bridge is the main focus. “We’re going to take a look to see if we can extend it,” he said, but added that the money is to build a safe bridge, “not to improve the road throughout.”
Cugno said the bridge is “old and it’s deteriorating. We have pictures to prove it,” he said during a power-point presentation. He said the project also includes new tide gates.
The bridge is located on a designated scenic route and a designated bicycle route. Officials said the most recent traffic volume figures from 2013 show 4,900 vehicles using the bridge on a daily basis.
Eminent Domain?
Michael L. Marzi, a DOT rights-of-way specialist, said some of the property impacts will be temporary and some will be permanent. He said the DOT will work with property owners and will compensate them if part of their land is needed for the project. He said if property owners don’t agree, the DOT can take the property by eminent domain.
“We have to build a bridge. We have a schedule to stick to,” Marzi said.
Marzi said he knows the project will cause inconveniences, but he said “It’s better than if this bridge fell into the creek in the middle of summer.”
“We don’t want the bridge to fall, that’s why we’re here,” Cugno said. He said the replacement schedule is based on availability of state and federal funding, property easements, and various permits.
Cugno said the rear parking lot of Lenny’s will be affected by the project, particularly during the construction phase.
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Some residents questioned the design of the bridge and said it might not look right on a scenic roadway.
Town Engineer Janice Plaziak said discussions between the town and the DOT have been ongoing for a few years. “We want to see something safe, but good looking,” she said.
“This is the preliminary design so we can get your comments,”Cugno said. “Then we go back to the drawing board. We’ll take a look at the aesthetics.”
Detour Explained
Cugno said the project uses “accelerated bridge construction” using a precast concrete box culvert that could be put into place quickly. He said the span will be closed for two weeks when the old bridge is removed and the new one is installed. A detour will be used during those two weeks. During construction of the rest of the project, there would be times of alternating one-way traffic with a flagman.
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The three-mile detour, that is scheduled for two weeks, would travel along Route 146 onto Sybil Avenue, Limewood Avenue and Hotchkiss Grove Road; and then onto Pine Orchard Road and then onto South Montowese. (See photo above.) In other words, if someone was traveling from Linden Avenue to Lenny’s, it would be an extra three miles.
It is anticipated construction would begin in the fall of 2016, with an anticipated completion date of spring 2017.
The new span would have an overall width of 47.5 feet with a curb-to-curb width of 34 feet. The current bridge is 12 feet long and measures 22 feet from curb to curb.
Cugno said utilities will be maintained throughout the project, but some will have to be temporarily relocated. He said some private properties will be affected by the project and the construction.
The DOT asked anyone with questions or comments to contact Lesgie M. Ruiz, 860 – 594-3351; or [email protected]
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