WESTFIELD – Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail have announced that the Mass DOT Highway Division is holding a Public Informational Meeting regarding the CGRT Center Downtown Section. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at the Westfield City Hall, Room 315, with regards to the development of the CGRT which will complete the trail from Westfield River to Main Street.
Plans for the project will be available for inspection one-half hour before the meeting begins with an engineer in attendance to answer questions.
The project begins at the end of the existing Columbia Greenway Rail Trail near Main St., and ends at the recently constructed Columbia Greenway North Segment at the Westfield River Railroad Bridge.
The center section will include five bridges including a new signature bridge over Main Street, rehabilitation of the bridge over Elm Street, and replacement of bridges over Thomas, Chapel and Orange Street.
A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The city is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at the meeting.
All views and comments made at the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible, according to the MassDOT announcement. Written statements will also be accepted at the meeting, or may be submitted to Patricia Leavenworth, P.E. Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116 Att: Roadway Project Management, File # 603783 or emailed to [email protected] within ten days of the public meeting.
The Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trails is asking the public to come and support their efforts to complete this important project and learn all about the timing of new construction.
