VIDEO: MassDOT Hosting Webinar Thursday on Route 495 & Mass Pike Improvement Project

[broadstreet zone=”52093″]

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will publish a design public hearing Webinar on its the MassDOT website to present the design for the proposed I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvements project in Hopkinton and Westborough.

The purpose of this hearing webinar is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvements project. All views and comments submitted in response to the webinar will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

The proposed project consists of reconstruction of the I-495/I-90 Interchange in Hopkinton and Westborough.

Once the project has been completed, the I-495/I-90 interchange will feature new direct connection ramps, grade-separated ramps, improved acceleration and deceleration lanes, an auxiliary lane from I-495 Northbound to Route 9, a new Fruit Street Bridge and new I-495 bridge over I-90 and the rail lines.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be presented in the webinar. Right-of-way plans can be made available to affected property owners upon request.

[broadstreet zone=”59984″]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hwpNKWcHkE

This interchange is a high-crash location, with 460 crashes between 2011 and 2015, including two that were fatal. A large number of these crashes occurred when interchange traffic backed up onto I-495, often during holidays and peak commuting times.

Many of the safety and capacity concerns result from:

• Ramp layout
• Weaving movements
• Vehicle merging

Improvements as part of this project will help to address these concerns and reduce crash rates – saving lives, health, time, and money.

Nearly half of the trucks entering eastern Massachusetts use this interchange. A goal of this project is to make improvements to this interchange which will substantially benefit the distribution of goods and services throughout the state. In turn, this will help facilitate both regional commerce and anticipated local growth.

The conversion of the Mass Pike to AET has improved traffic flow between I-495 and I-90. Because vehicles no longer stop to pay tolls, vehicle emissions are reduced. With the removal of the toll plaza, MassDOT is now positioned to improve the interchange geometry. In other words, AET has laid the foundation to improve the interchange safety, traffic, freight commerce and economic development.

[broadstreet zone=”59948″]

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to 5 days prior to the date of the webinar and a project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

Written statements and other exhibits regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Highway Division, Project File No.607977. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing webinar transcript must be postmarked no later than 10 business days after the webinar is posted to the MassDOT website listed below. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us.