Northern Middlesex Council of Governments  

Serving the communities of Greater Lowell Massachusetts.
 

 

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1975 Environmental Impact Statement

1985 Environmental Impact Statement
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Check back often for updates!

 

 

In developing the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan, a survey was distributed to each community asking officials to identify and rank the transportation priorities with their respective communities.  City of Lowell officials identified the river crossing deficiencies as being of high priority.  The temporary two-lane, Rourke Bridge currently carries about 28,000 vehicles per day.  The City has requested that a new, updated feasibility study be completed and the necessary environmental documents be prepared for replacing the temporary bridge with a permanent structure.  The estimated cost for the feasibility study and EA/EIS is $1.5 million. 

Congressman Marty Meehan earmarked $562,439 in High Priority Project through SAFETEA-LU for the Wood Street/Rourke Bridge Corridor Study. The intent of this project is two-fold:  (1) to develop short-term recommendations for addressing the severe congestion and safety issues that presently exist along the corridor; and (2) to reassess the feasibility of constructing a permanent replacement for the temporary Rourke Bridge.  This feasibility effort will also evaluate possible connections to Route 3 on the west side of the river, and to Mammoth Road in Dracut on the east side of the river, as initially proposed in the DEIS.

NMCOG has established a contract with MassDOT for this process and is in the process of developing and issuing an RFP for Consultant services. NMCOG will administer the consultant contract.  Issuance of the RFP is scheduled for September 2011.

Proposed Activities:

NMCOG staff will work with MassDOT, FHWA, the City of Lowell, and the Towns of Chelmsford, Dracut, and Tyngsborough throughout the process. Below is a general description of the study process. 

1.      Issue RFP for consultant services and administer consultant selection process.

2.      Work with established Technical Committee and Project Advisory Committee to review work products and solicit community input.  These committees will include NMCOG, LRTA, MassDOT, the City of Lowell and the Towns of Chelmsford, Dracut, and Tyngsborough.

3.      Administer and manage contract.

4.      Assist with public outreach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Lowell

 

 

 

 

 

NMCOG Contact Information

40 Church Street, Suite 200
Lowell, MA 01852
Phone: 978-454-8021
Fax: 978-454-8023
Email: sbradbury@nmcog.org