Patrick brings funds for rotary fix, dredging

The state money moves up the timetable for the rotary’s reconstruction by as much as five years.

“Money is always the biggest hurdle,’’ said Hingham project engineer Roger Fernandes, who will oversee the design and construction for the town. “Now that we’ve got the funding, we can move forward.’’

Earlier this month, town consultants projected 2014 as the earliest the project would receive funding through the state’s Transportation Improvement Program. Fernandes said that depending upon the permitting process and completion of design plans, construction now could begin in six months to a year and finish as early as 2011.

Before construction begins, public hearings will be held, and while the town’s preferred plan is for a T-intersection with a traffic light, designs are not final.

Patrick said the $2.4 million will create short-term construction jobs and improve for years to come an intersection that officials have said is one of the worst in the state for fender benders.

“It’s really going to improve it immensely,’’ said Hingham Selectman John Riley.

The rotary funnels about 30,000 motorists a day through its three spokes to Hull, Scituate, Cohasset, and other parts of Hingham. That number can rise to 40,000 during the summer.

Town officials would like to eliminate the rotary, create more open space along Hingham Harbor, and improve pedestrian access from the square to the harbor. Such a plan would nearly complete a link of improved roadways, parking, and open space from the harbor to Hingham Square that began nearly a decade ago as part of the Greenbush Commuter Rail restoration.

More than a dozen town and state officials gathered for the announcement last Friday in the parking lot of the Lincoln Maritime Center, which sits on land between the harbor and the rotary.

When officials began to depart for the tour of the square, Patrick asked state Representative Garrett Bradley why the group couldn’t walk to the square, which begins within yards of the rotary.

“Because of the rotary. You take your life into your hands,’’ Bradley said.

The initial reason for Patrick’s visit was to spotlight the dredging of Hingham Harbor, a $1.5 million project that will allow the channel to remain open for commercial and recreational vessels. In January Patrick included a 75 percent share of the project’s cost in the state Environmental Bond Bill. The town will pay the remaining 25 percent.

Patrick said that Bradley and state Senator Robert Hedlund were instrumental in securing the $1.5 million for the dredging. They also persuaded the governor to include not only the $2.4 million for the rotary, but $450,000 for the rehabilitation of an outfall channel wall in Jacobs Meadow in Cohasset - another visit on Patrick’s itinerary Friday.

In Hingham, his visit included a stop at South Street, where a $1.1 million state Public Works Development Grant created a parking lot as part of the commuter rail restoration. Town officials said about half of the grant will be used to complete a link from the square to the commuter rail station and another parking lot.

Bradley said parking lots may not be as glamorous as some projects, but without parking downtown, businesses could easily lose customers to big retailers that have ample parking.

“Parking is a downtown’s meat and potatoes,’’ he said.

While walking from the Station Street parking lot, Patrick’s tour included surprise stops at Station 29 Barber Shop, Brewed Awakenings, Nona’s Ice Cream, and Noble’s Camera.

Tony Marchione, a barber at the Station Street shop, said he was surprised when Patrick, his press aides, and camera crews walked in.

“I had no idea they were coming,’’ Marchione said with a big smile. “I’ve only seen him on TV.’’

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