Residents of Chelsea may experience traffic congestion for approximately three years during the Chelsea Viaduct project, but the City will receive compensation in the form of a mitigation package upon completion.
According to City Manager Tom Ambrosino, a mitigation package has been secured to accompany the Viaduct project, which begins April 1.
“We got what I thought was a reasonable
mitigation package from MassDOT,” Ambrosino stated. “It wasn’t perfect, but at the end
of the day it was reasonable.”
Among the significant enhancements will be two newly constructed public parking lots positioned beneath the Tobin curves once construction concludes.
The package will provide 135 public parking spaces located just one block from downtown Chelsea, according to Ambrosino, who believes this will help address the parking shortage affecting the region.
Additional parking will also be constructed under the curves at Carter Street.
The preservation of the Arlington Street onramp near the Williams School represents another essential component of the mitigation package. Although MassDOT initially considered removing this ramp in preliminary designs, community opposition successfully prevented its elimination.
The mitigation package also includes the following elements:
•Installation of a comprehensive snow fence for noise reduction.
•Funding for community outreach initiatives to keep residents informed throughout the three-year project duration.
•Resurfacing of Fourth Street.
•Enhancement of lighting infrastructure beneath the Bridge following project completion.