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Date: 7/2/2015
SPRINGFIELD – Despite the fact that in April a press release from Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) listed the estimated completion of the I-91 viaduct project as February 2019, Richard Masse, acting director for MassDOT Region 2, asserted to Reminder Publications the renovation of the span through downtown Springfield would be completed by August 2018.
Although Massie didn’t make a note of it, that is now the completion date of the MGM Springfield casino. He did say that MassDOT had been in communication with MGM management “even before they were selected” to be the casino developers.
Several hundred people gathered at the Basketball Hall of Fame theater on June 25 for a progress update on the project.
Massie said the contractor J.F. White has an incentive provision in the contracts that rewards the company with a bonus of $50,000 for every day ahead of schedule the completion falls. There is a pool of $9 million in incentives, he added.
There is also a penalty of $50,000 a day for every day past the completion date the contractor must pay.
The work will be done during two shifts. Massie said there would be “no excuses.” When asked how one of the next winters with a large amount of snow would affect the project, he said there would be no effect.
Bob Murphy of J.F. White said the job of replacing 600,000 square feet of road deck is “complicated.”
Once improving signals on streets in downtown Springfield that are expected to carry an increased load of traffic is complete later this year as well as other preparation work, the focus will shift to closing the outside lane on both northbound and southbound sides, and removing and replacing the deck.
The northbound on-ramps on Union and State streets will be closed. Southbound the off-ramp to Springfield center and the Memorial Bridge as well as the ramp on Union Street will be closed. The goal appears to encourage as many local drivers as possible to use city streets or U.S. Route 5 in West Springfield as the way to move north and south. Massie said the current work on the rotary on the West Springfield side of the Memorial Bridge was in anticipation of the greater volume of traffic.
Massie added that “real time traffic management” would be used in the form of electronic message boards alerting motorist to changing conditions.
At one moment during the presentation Donald Cooke of VHB said the lane closures would only add 10 to 15 minutes to the average trip. The audience laughed in derision.
Representatives from various businesses asked questions about the work. A representative from the Big E wondered if the work would affect this year’s fair and Massie said the lane closures would not be in place for September.
Matt Longhi, representing the Springfield Museums, asked if the signage to the museum would be changed. Massie said signs leading travelers to attractions such as the museums would be modified and moved and detours established.
Stephen Crane, the town manager for Longmeadow, expressed concern for ambulances serving Longmeadow residents and how they would efficiently travel to Baystate Medical Center once the construction takes place. He asked for an “ongoing dialogue” with MassDOT officials.
Daren Grey of Baystate Health reminded MassDOT the company has 120,000 visitors a week and 11,000 employees many of who use I-91.
Michael Sharff, the director of planning and development for Peter Pan Bus Lines, said this would be a time to promote ridesharing to get as many cars off the road.
Massie concurred. “This is a big opportunity to do more ride-sharing,” he said.
One roadway bound for additional use will be Main Street and Massie noted there would be a reconstruction of part of Main Street in the North End that would start some time next year.
Although there is an advisory group working on a more permanent solution to the way I-91 travels through Springfield that has included discussions of a tunnel, a depressed roadway or moving the highway to Route 5, Massie said whatever are their final recommendations about the future of the highway there is no funding or timeline to implement them at this time.
“There is no putting off what we’re doing right now,” Massie said of the project.
To follow the progress of the project, go to www.mass.gov/massdot/I91ViaductRehab