Agawam/West Springfield: Morgan-Sullivan Bridge Project Public Meeting Set

09/17/2018

MassDOT will host a public meeting regarding the upcoming Morgan-Sullivan Bridge Project in West Springfield and Agawam as follows:

Tuesday, October 2, 6:30pm, West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central Street

The $21.5 million project will reconstruct the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge that carries Suffield Street/Memorial Avenue (Route 147) over the Westfield River between West Springfield and Agawam. Preliminary bridge work for this project is currently expected to begin in early October, and traffic setups including permanent lane closures will be put in place by November. These lane closures will mean that vehicles will have access to one lane of travel in each direction over the bridge. This configuration is expected to remain in place 24/7 until the end of 2021 when the new bridge will be opened to two lanes of travel in each direction.

“We have appreciated the support and input from local leaders and members of the community throughout the design stage of this project and we are pleased to be hosting this public meeting to provide further information on upcoming work activities,” said Interim MassDOT District 2 Highway Director Peter Cavicchi. “This project has been designed so that it will provide benefits to all roadway users including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and we look forward to beginning construction operations in October.”

At this public meeting, MassDOT staff and project team members will provide information on upcoming construction activities and the work schedule, and answer questions from members of the public. The public meeting is scheduled as follows:

In general, throughout this construction project, motorists will have access to one travel lane in each direction on the bridge. At various times, there will be traffic impacts on the surrounding roadways as work progress throughout the project area. As with all MassDOT projects, consideration has been given to the impact on those who use the bridge and construction activities will be undertaken in such a manner in order to minimize the impact on the traveling public and local community.

This project is being carried out to improve the functionality of the bridge and ensure reliable travel throughout this area. This bridge was originally constructed in 1945 and is structurally deficient which means that it is safe for travel but in need of further attention.

MassDOT appreciates the cooperation and patience of the traveling public as core infrastructure is maintained and rebuilt. Members of the public are encouraged to utilize the appropriate technology tools to plan trips, including mass511.com, the MassDOT GoTime travel app, and other wayfinding resources to find the most appropriate route, mode, and timing of travel during construction operations.

 By Klark Jessen

Courtesy of MassDOT Blog