History of the Arthur DiTommaso Memorial Bridge
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As of September 30, 2003...Status:
DiTommaso bridge opens. Selfish politicians complain about not being invited.
As of September 17, 2003...Status:
Grouting of most of the cables to be completed soon. Opening date September 29th? I'm with you - I'll believe it when I see it!
As of May 8, 2003...Status:
Cables installed. Grouting of cables to be completed soon. Opening date between June 15th and July 3rd.
As of February 17, 2003...Status:
Waiting for warmer weather to install the cables. A Spring opening date is nearly definite.
As of May 15, 2002...Status:
Work starting on the deck.
As of April 11, 2002...Status:
Towers at final height.
As of March 6, 2002...Status:
It's beginning to look like a bridge.
As of December 12, 2001...Status:
Tower legs taking shape.
As of October 17, 2001...Status:
Contractor working on all four tower legs. Both east and west bridge abutments are 90% complete. Aggressive scheduling may allow erection of steel by December.
As of March 28, 2001...Status:
Contractor J. F. White excavating production shafts that will hold the footings for the bridge towers. Work is also being performed on the bridge abutments.
As of September 11, 2000...Status:
Work beginning in the old DeLongchamp building. Value engineering proposals regarding bridge supports to be evaluated by 9/18/00.
As of June 4, 2000...Status:
Groundbreaking ceremony held with Governor Cellucci. Actual construction to begin by 07/01/00.
As of April 24, 2000...Status:
5th Street bridge bids and bidders available from Mass Highway.
As of April 19, 2000...Status:
5th Street bridge bids opened today at 2:00 PM-low bidder is JF White at $14,646,732.
As of April 11, 2000...Status:
Bid opening date POSTPONED AGAIN until 04/19/00!
As of April 4, 2000...Status:
Bid opening date POSTPONED ONCE AGAIN until 04/11/00!
As of March 29, 2000...Status:
Bid opening date POSTPONED AGAIN until 04/04/00.
As of March 7, 2000...Status:
Bid opening date POSTPONED until 03/28/00.
As of December 20, 1999...Status:
Project was ADVERTISED by Mass Highway on Saturday, December 18, 1999 (finally!).
As of December 14, 1999...Status:
Currently, the advertising date is tentatively set for December 25, 1999 with construction to begin in spring 2000.
As of October 28, 1999...Status:
Advertising date set for November 1999 with construction to begin in spring 2000. Design consultant STV currently addressing the most recent review comments.
As of April, 1999...Status:
Demolition continuing. Contractor has approved extension until July 1999.
As of February, 1999...Status:
Demolition suspended until Fitchburg Gas & Electric work completed. Demolition contract completion date of March 1999 in jeopardy...contractor has requested extension until July 1999.
As of January, 1999...Status:
Concrete arch span demolished. Other work continuing.
As of December, 1998...Status:
Demolition of bridge scheduled for early January 1999.
As of September, 1998...Status:
Demolition contract for existing bridge has been advertised and bids have been opened. Demolition to start soon.
As of April, 1998...Status:
Advertising delayed due to on site contamination (cyanide). A fall 1998 advertising date might still be possible.
As of December 5, 1997...Status:
On Tuesday, December 2, Fitchburg officials including Acting Mayor Ronald Ingemie met with Mass Highway officials at the MHD District 3 office in Worcester to discuss current status. MHD reports that the project is scheduled to be advertised for construction in the spring of 1998 with construction of the new structure to begin by the fall of 1998.
As of September 30, 1997...Status:
Acting Mayor Ronald Ingemie approves proposed redesign. Redesign includes two cable towers instead of one. Overall height of towers are now 50 feet shorter than originally planned for the single tower design No major impact to the overall design/construction schedule. Demolition to start in 1998 with bridge opening date remaining at early 2000.
As of July 25, 1997...Status:
Meeting with city and state officials held on Wednesday, July 23, 1997 at MHD headquarters in Boston Redesign could include two cable towers instead of one. Overall height of towers will be significantly lower. Redesign probably will add 3 months to the overall design/construction schedule.
As of June 27, 1997...Status:
PUBLIC HEARING was held on Thursday, June 26, 1997 at 7:30 PM at Fitchburg City Hall. Scheduled advertising date is March 8, 1998. Construction to begin in June 1998. Bridge anticipated to be open to traffic in late 1999 or early 2000. STV Inc. presented the CABLE STAYED bridge option (this is a new bridge/replacement option). I asked at the hearing if early demolition of the bridge is possible to save possibly 6-8 months from the opening date. The project manager stated that it might be possible; they are examining that option. MART has stated that existing bus routes can handle the disruption in pedestrian traffic. Please call MART at 345.7711 for more information.
As of June 12, 1997...Status:
PUBLIC HEARING scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 1997 at 7:30 PM at Fitchburg City Hall. Designers will be presenting the CABLE STAYED bridge option (this is a new bridge/replacement option). Public input is needed to address the closing of the bridge to pedestrian traffic during demolition/construction.
As of March 7, 1997...Status:
Type Study has been completed. Recommendation is FULL REPLACEMENT of the existing bridge. Design scheduled to be completed by February 1998.
Construction to begin Spring 1998. Anticipated construction will take two full construction seasons. New bridge to be open to traffic late 1999 or early 2000.
As of February 13, 1997...Status:
25% highway plans received early by MHD. Plans will be distributed for review.
Historical American Engineers Record (HAER) draft documentation has been reviewed. Comments have been returned to the subcontractor.
As of February 1, 1997...Status:
STV Right of Way people believe that no additional takings are needed. Sketch plans due end of February. Type study due shortly. 25% highway plans to MHD District 3 by the end of February. Leaning towards rehabilitation over replacement (no decision made yet).
On Tuesday, October 29, 1996, an informal meeting was held at the Fifth Street Bridge for the purpose of gaining some knowledge and insight into the current bridge situation. Attending the meeting were the following:
Willis Regan, Mass Highway District Project Development Engineer
Carl Goldknopf, PE, Project Manager, STV Inc. (the bridge design consultant)
State Rep. Emile Goguen
State Rep. Mary Jane Simmons
Mayor Jeff Bean
At Large Councilor Herman Bourque
Ward 6 Councilor Ralph Romano
Ward 2 Councilor Gene Girouard
An STV field team was also at the site beginning investigatory work
The current status (October 1996) is as follows:
STV Inc. is currently assessing design options to decide on total bridge replacement or extensive rehabilitation. This assessment process should be complete by February/March 1997 at which time a decision will be made whether to replace or rehabilitate the bridge. It seems feasible to do advance demolition of the existing structure while design of the new (or rehab'd) structure would continue. This could save 3-6 months of construction time. (Advance demolition is not definite...this is yet to be decided). Design completion is estimated at late 1997/early 1998. Anticipating a quick construction advertisement by Mass Highway (Feb/Mar 1998), project completion and bridge opening would occur late 1999/early 2000. The timeline is not affected by the decision to rehab or replace the bridge.
March 1995:
FIFTH STREET BRIDGE IS CLOSED!
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