Plymouth Approves River Street Bridge Closure to Speed Up Project
$361,000 Downtown Climate Resilience project aims to combat urban heat island effect and improve stormwater management
PLYMOUTH, MA - August 6 - Plymouth's Select Board has approved a plan to fully close the River Street Bridge for reconstruction, reducing the project timeline from 16 months to 12 months. The closure is set to begin in September 2024, with the bridge expected to reopen by July 2025.
The decision came during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, where the board unanimously voted in favor of the full closure option presented by MassDOT and Skanska USA.
"I'd like to make a motion that we approve the shorter full closure detour," said Board member Charlie Bletzer, who expressed support for the quicker completion time.
The project involves replacing the bridge deck, cleaning and repairing structural steel, and reconstructing the roadway approaches. The full closure will allow for a more efficient construction process and minimize disruptions to the area.
In the same meeting, Michael Cahill, Plymouth's Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Planner, presented plans for a major climate resilience overhaul of downtown Plymouth. The $361,000 project aims to mitigate urban heat island effects and improve stormwater management across 3,000 linear feet of the downtown area.
"This project is directly aligned with both the Municipal Vulnerability Plan, which was passed in 2020, and numerous priorities outlined in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan," Cahill explained.
Key elements of the downtown project include tree planting and vegetation enhancement, reflective surface treatments for parking spaces, intersection improvements for pedestrian safety, redesign of public spaces like Depot Square Park and the courthouse green, and stormwater management improvements.
Cahill announced that the project had secured $361,000 in funding through an MVP Action Grant from the state, in addition to previously allocated funds from the town and the Visitor Services Board.
The plan also includes an educational component, with programming for 1st, 5th, and 12th-grade students, as well as community workshops.
Board members expressed enthusiasm for the project. Bletzer commented, "This is very exciting. I know Derek [Brindisi has] been talking about this for a long time doing this and it's one of the goals and it looks like we're going to get there at some point."
Cahill indicated that design and permitting are expected to be finalized by July 2025, with construction potentially beginning in fall 2025, pending funding approval.