Grew Park Neighborhood Association Summer Update

[Joan Quagenti]

Hi Neighbors!

Hope you have all been enjoying this great summer. We will resume meetings in October, however, in the meantime, I wanted to reach out to you with some updates, and invite you to share any information/questions/concerns.

1. The Police Report for June, July and early August is attached to this email. Thank you to Officer Broderick for rounding up the information and passing it along.

2. A few members reached out about having a block party. I applied for the mayor's office for block party funding. I am waiting to hear. If we get approval, I will let you know.  I have also applied for the appropriate licenses we need from the city in order to get the roads blocked off, etc. If we get approvals, we will hold the block party in late September or sometime in October. 

3. If you have not seen the latest update from MADot regarding the progress on the River Street Bridge, I have dropped a copy of it below. In a recent discussion with MADot, they are on schedule, and plans are moving ahead to make repairs, and get the bridge opened to traffic before closing it down again to install the replacement bridge. Our neighborhood association has been very active in making our concerns heard, so please reach out with any comments you have. 

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Joan Quagenti-Bahadir
Grew Park Neighborhood Association

Project Progress Report and Look Ahead: August 21st to September 1st

Construction

Work completed in the past two weeks:

• MassDOT and Amtrak have been coordinating over the past several weeks regarding the demolition plan.  The most recent meetings have been productive, and the railroad is working to provide MassDOT with maximal time to come up with solutions to the challenges faced by the project.  Assuming approvals for the demolition and other associated plans continue on the current timetable work will resume at the bridge site in September. 
• Ongoing joint reviews between Amtrak and MassDOT of the removal plan for the existing bridge deck pans (sections of the bridge which formerly supported the asphalt deck between the beams and stringers) and stringers (sections of the bridge which connect the girders and support the deck pans).

Work anticipated for the next two weeks:

• Continued joint reviews between Amtrak and MassDOT of the removal plan for deck pans and stringers.

Planned work hours for the next two weeks:

• Overnight - 1.5 hours per night (railroad restriction)

MassDOT will provide additional information regarding the status of the removal plan during the week of August 7^th as coordination between the agency and Amtrak continues.

Traffic

Two vehicle detours remain in place during the bridge closure:

• The northern (towards Forest Hills) detour uses the West Street Bridge to cross the train tracks. Summer Street carries northbound traffic. Austin Street carries traffic going south. Both streets connect to Gordon Avenue and then to River Street.  
• The southern (towards Readville) detour uses the Reservation Road Bridge to cross the train tracks.  Reservation Road connects to Business Street which connects with River Street opposite Gordon Avenue.
• Both sidewalks on the River Street Bridge are open to cyclists and pedestrians
  • Both sidewalks are anticipated to remain open during the two weeks covered by this look-ahead.

All businesses in Cleary Square remain open and ready to serve you during construction.