MassPike Bridges In Framingham 'Structurally Deficient'

MetroWest residents, including those in Framingham, will have an opportunity to tell Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials how the tolls on the MassPike impact their lives Tuesday night.

MassDOT is hosting four meetings on the Massachusetts Turnpike, the third of which will be held in Framingham Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Blummer Community room in the Memorial Building.

Mass. General Laws Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009 provides in section 173 that the Western Turnpike shall be operated and maintained free of tolls when all notes and bonds issued by the Department of Transportation have been paid (Jan. 2017) and the Turnpike is deemed to be in good condition and repair to the satisfaction of the department.

MassDOT considers the Western Turnpike to begin in Weston at the Route 90/95 interchange.

The MassDOT will present and discuss its Triennial Review (State of Good Repair) report for the Western Massachusetts Turnpike and its impact on the status of tolls after January 2017, during the Framingham meeting.

MassDOT is required to submit a Triennial Review regarding the state of repair every 3 years. This report, conducted by an independent team, reviews the condition of highway assets such as bridges, roadway assets, facilities, and pavement along the Western Mass section of Interstate 90.

The latest report states in order to improve the condition of the MassPike and to define a “maintenance plan that is sufficient to keep assets in a State of Good Repair,” $778 million is needed over the next five years (2016-2020)

The latest report also indicates there are eight bridges considered “structurally deficient” with one or more of the Items in poor condition. MassDOT is recommending five bridges be rehabbed and three are recommended for replacement.

Two of those “structurally deficient” bridges are in Framingham at MassPike eastbound over the MDC Reservoir 3 and the MassPike westbound bridge over the MDC Reservoir 3.

Both are listed in poor condition, and scheduled to be rehabbed. The estimated cost to fix each is $3.6 million. The projects are in the design phase, with construction slated for 2016.

Another item likely to be discussed at the MassDOT meeting is the conversion of the toll plazas to operator free.

MassDOT is currently in the process of converting the Turnpike to an All Electronic Toll System (AETS). As part of this project, the existing toll plazas on the Turnpike will be removed.

Last year, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said “We will be rolling out electronic tolls the entire length of the Massachusetts Turnpike in 2016.”

Other hearings have already been held in Worcester and Springfield, with the final hearing scheduled for January 28 in Springfield.