Bridges over Charles not hazardous, according to state
Pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, even politicians. It's no secret to anyone that lots of bridges in Massachusetts are in dire need of major repairs. Last month, Governor Deval Patrick proposed legislation that would fast-track improvements to a number of the most neglected bridges statewide at a cost of nearly $3 billion.
Tipster Aimee Bellows tells GlobeWatch she's worried about the condition of some well-worn bridges in Cambridge spanning the Charles River and wonders when - or even if - they will be in line for what appears to her to be some urgently needed attention.
"As a frequent biker and walker, I've noticed with concern the increasingly deteriorated state of the concrete walls 'protecting' the pedestrian from falling into the river on the River Street and Western Ave bridges over the Charles River between Cambridge and Allston," writes Bellows in an e-mail.
"They are now at the stage where one good push will knock one or more massive concrete panels into the Charles. Is there any plan to repair them? It looks like an emergency situation."
A visit by a Globe reporter last week found both the Western Avenue and River Street bridges looking shabby. Walls lining the sidewalks on both bridges had fjord-like cracks that had likely caused large sections of the walls to stray from alignment.
Crumbling concrete edges on top of the walls left the metal support beams underneath exposed to the elements in some spots. Sidewalks on both bridges were also cracked, with chunks of pavement loosened or chipped away entirely, leaving plenty of room for patches of weeds to thrive.
The city responds
"We know they need repairs," said Wendy Fox, spokeswoman for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which maintains both structures. "Neither of those bridges are slated for repairs right now, but both are being looked at [for work] further down the road." Fox said she couldn't give a specific timetable.
Fox said the department manages 279 bridges statewide and has a number of other, more urgent bridge projects that need to be completed before River Street and Western Avenue can be addressed. She noted that both bridges are safe, and the department has determined they are not in any danger of collapsing. "If we thought they were unsafe, we would get to work on them right away," said Fox.
WHO'S IN CHARGE
Rick Sullivan, commissioner
Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02114-2104
617-626-1250 