MAYOR DOMENIC J. SARNO AND CITY OFFICIALS PROVIDE DETAILS ON STATE STREET BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT
August 18, 2009 - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and City Officials provided details today on the State Street Bridge reconstruction project. The bridge was originally designed to carry both vehicular and trolley traffic.
The bridge reconstruction will include the repair of all deteriorated concrete within the bridge structure, visible from both State Street and from Roosevelt Avenue. The concrete replacement requires an extensive support system to support the area under the sidewalk vaults on each side of the bridge during ongoing repairs.
This project required early coordination with utility companies who needed to relocate existing utilities. This coordination had started months before in order to afford a timely start to the reconstruction work. The utility vaults under the sidewalks on each side of the bridge require rehabilitation to repair the deteriorating concrete and to make the vaults water tight. Temporary relocation of electric and telephone ducts to clear the vault area were also required. Gas mains which previously impacted this work have been permanently relocated out of the project area.
Once the work to the bridge structure is complete, the repairs to the stone facing will commence. This will include removal and resetting of the stone facing, reusing the existing stone and supplementing with new as required. An anti-graffiti coating will be applied to the concrete on the underside of bridge to allow for easy cleaning in the future.
The total cost of the project is $2 million and is being funded by MassHighway.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who recognized the inconvenience this project may cause some motorist, stated “The State Street Bridge was in dire need of these necessary repairs.” “The City needs to continue moving forward with projects such as this to address issues associated with our City’s aging infrastructure.” Sarno also extended his appreciation to Mass Highway for their ongoing financial commitment to the City of Springfield.
City Councilor William T. Foley stated “This has been a long time coming.” “Due to the efforts of Congressman Neal, Mayor Sarno and others, this public safety issue is finally resolved, stated Foley.”
Springfield’s Director of Public Works Al Chwalek stated “the rehabilitation of the State Street Bridge is long overdue.” “This project compliments the huge State Street revitalization project which is expected to be completed this construction season,” stated Chwalek.
