MassDOT Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge Replacement Project


Division of Highways

A Steel Deck Arch Bridge

MassDOT has determined that the current Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge should be replaced with a steel deck arch structure with five spans. Initial announcement of the preferred alternative was made at the September 8, 2010 MEPA Scoping/Public Information Meeting. For more information on what went into the type study, please see the Project Overview page.

More about the Steel Deck Arch

The current Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge is a concrete deck arch structure with the roadway resting on a series of columns supported by the bridge's arches. By replacing the current span with a steel deck arch structure, the project team will be able to build a bridge that takes advantage of the following:

Meeting the Goals of the ABP

It can be designed and constructed within the cost and schedule established by MassDOT for this project. This is in keeping with the Accelerated Bridge Program's commitment to complete projects on time and on budget.

Constructibility:

The preferred bridge type provides significant constructibility benefits and is readily adaptable to accelerated bridge construction techniques due to the relative lightness of steel.

A steel deck arch span can be built using a two-phase construction sequence without the need for a temporary bridge. The proposed construction phasing will minimize the impacts to adjacent businesses and vehicular traffic.

Responding to Roadway All Roadway Users:

The proposed alternative will provide for three east and westbound travel lanes, westbound turning lanes, bicycle accommodations, and sidewalks on both sides that will allow for improved pedestrian mobility and views of the lake.

Responding to Boaters

The steel deck arch alternative will improve the clearance of the bridge from its current height of 18’ above mean high water at the mid-point of the arch to 23 feet above mean high water over a horizontal clearance of 50 feet. This is in keeping with the concerns of the boating community to facilitate the passage of recreational boat traffic under the bridge.
The proposed alternative will also provide an open median that will allow improved light, visibility and safety for recreational users of the lake.

An Aesthetically Pleasing Structure

This bridge type provides an opportunity to build a new bridge that is in keeping with the character of the area and the community's wishes with regard to aesthetics in the following areas:

A clean, uncluttered structure with a relatively traditional look and feel. The recommended span mirrors a bridge that was proposed during the early phases of design for the current 1916 bridge.
A structure that will provide improved lake views through the use of pedestrian overlooks and wide sidewalks.
An open median providing for improved lake views, additional light and safety for recreational craft passing below the bridge.
A gateway bridge that will highlight the recreational use of the lake through the use of aesthetic treatments and accent lighting.
MassDOT is continuing to coordinate with local elected officials for additional improvements in the overall look and feel of the bridge.

On March 29, 2011, MassDOT conducted a public information meeting that showed the latest proposed design and recommended aesthetic treatments for the bridge. The proposed design is the result of comments received to date and attempts to accommodate all of the concerns and requests to the extent possible. For more information about this meeting, please click here. The pupose of these brief videos is to provide the public with a general idea of what the bridge could look like based on comments received from the public to date. You may also wish to view additional images of the specific segments of the bridge such as the railings. For detail views, please click here.

Orbit: this video provides a view of the proposed bridge from the top as though the camera were attached to a helicopter hovering around the bridge.

Overflight: in this video, the camera pans along the top of the bridge from the Shrewsbury side to the Worcester side.

Passby: this video provides a side view of the bridge from the lake's surface as it would be experienced by a boater.

Underflight: this video provides a view of the bridge from below as it would be experienced by a boater going under the span from the north end of the lake to the south.

Although the 25% design is expected to be complete by September 2011, ,the public involvement process is not over. The design team wants to hear from you regarding how to make this important transportation link visually pleasing and intends to continue to keep the public informed during the final design and construction of the project.

We encourage you to share your thoughts with the project's public involvement specialist. Although MassDOT cannot accommodate every comment or suggestion, all comments are considered to the extent possible.