I-93/95 Interchange meeting planned for September
Published on August 28th, 2002
STONEHAM ,MA - The I93/95 interchange project is still the subject of an ongoing feasibility study, however, new meetings are being planned to unveil updated proposals and to gather further input from residents.
The plan MassHighway unveiled at Stoneham High School on June 4, called for an expansion of the footprint of the I-93/I-95 intersection that will tear down over 100 homes in Reading, Woburn and Stoneham. With the help of residents through many public meetings since June, the project has been scaled back to be less intrusive.
Steve Young, spokesperson for MassHighway said the commissioner John Cogliano has directed engineers to pursue alternate concept plans that would reduce the number of house takings needed for the project. Young estimated between 20 to 30 houses are at risk, to the best of his recollection. “The commissioner is very aware of the effect this will have on the community and is looking for the least intrusive plan,” said Young.
The Massachusetts Highway Department contracted with the firm of Edwards and Kelcey to prepare the feasibility study. Edward and Kelcey spokesperson, Rod Emery, said the study is progressing nicely, and it is up to MassHighway to schedule public meetings.
Emery said that the three-4 tier concepts and three-3 tier concepts have been pared down to just the three-3 tier concepts. The flyovers are to be about 25 feet high, not 75 as proposed with a four-tier design. Emery reiterated the commissioners sentiments, that as the concepts get refined, they look to spare as many homes as they can.
The highly charged interchange reconstruction project has been said to be the state‚s second biggest project after the “Big Dig,” however, this project is in the $100’s million range, similar to many other state projects and far down the list past the $14 billion “Big Dig.” MassHighway has until November to come up with a conclusion to their feasibility study.
Public meetings will be held in mid-September with the communities involved and dates and times will be made public through the “usual media outlets,” said Young.
PRESERVE Spokeswoman Carla Abate and Darlene Bruen, president of Thag (tri-community highway action group) were not available for comment. Preserve and Thag are two groups that have joined forces to limit or erase the proposed reconstruction project. At a June meeting, PRESERVE had obtained over 3,000 signatures in support of stopping the feasibility study as it is being proposed.
According to Edward and Kelcey’s website “The (feasibility) study includes preparing traffic forecasts for a 20-year design horizon, analyzing various alternatives using traffic simulation software, and developing alternative interchange configurations, including adding collector-distributor roads and multi-level direct connector ramps. Concepts will be evaluated in terms of their effects on residential and commercial properties, wetlands, open space and other environmental resources.”
The initial concept drew quick reaction from residents from surrounding towns who showed up in droves to a June 24, meeting held by residents to unite into one voice of opposition. The 700 residents, without Edwards and Kelcey representatives nor MassHighway officials stated their intentions best in the following sentiments:
“Let's all work together to kill this thing," said one member of the audience.
"This is big enough. We can do it,” said another resident.
Reading Selectman George Hines said, “don’t doubt that we can stop it. We can. We will."
According to a previous Stoneham Independent online poll that asked: “Should area towns try to limit the I93/95 interchange expansion plan?” 60.4 percent said yes, and 39.6 percent said no. Given the public outcry that has proliferated since the original plan to overhaul the interchange came to light in October 2001, MassHighway may still have a tough road to hoe.
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