LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town has secured the final easements to allow for a replacement of the Narragansett Avenue bridge.

 

The multi-year project is being paid for by Federal Highway funds to replace the bridge over Pontoosuc Lake.

 

The cost is just over $7 million and the project includes putting up a temporary bridge and then reconstructing a new one. The state's Department of Transportation is heading the project but the town is responsible for acquiring the easements. 

 

On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen signed off licenses, which act as easements to move the project forward, from the state Department of Capital Asset Management. Those licenses are for five pieces of land, which are under DCAM control and protected by Article 97 conservation restrictions. 

 

"There is a sense of urgency to get this signed," said Town Manager Paul Sieloff, who says the state is looking to bid the project in the next week and start construction this fall. "This is the last of the easements."

 

Last month, the town had already agreed with some 11 other friendly takings of land for the project, providing most of the easements needed for access to start construction. On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen also approved payouts for the owners of the two mostly impacted properties. Robert Barton is will be paid $42,000 for what Sieloff says is the state "basically going to run a temporary bridge over Barton's property" and Mark Messina will receive $9,000 for giving up a portion of his land for the bridge. 

 

A total of 18 easements were needed. Of particular difficulty was securing the DCAM property. Being placed in Article 97 restriction the state legislature is required to give a 2/3 vote in formal session to remove it and allow for construction. That, didn't happen. 

 

"What happened, it came down to crunch time in the legislative session. And the town manager worked very hard on this and it seemed as though somebody in some department didn't follow through on one aspect of it. We put forward the legislation just like [the town] asked us to and it was in short notice. It was in two weeks before the session ends. The House clerk, as part of his duties, takes a look at legislation that is filed and determines where it needs to go. He looked at the lake and sees 'these are navigable waters,'" state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi said. "That triggered the legislation going to the Secretary of State's office for their approval."

 

That extra review called for another public notice to be issued. But, it had come at the very end of the session and the town was unable to make that posting in time. The extra time looking at the issues of possible navigation coupled with a scurry of activity in the state house to pass omnibus bills such as the energy bill, led to the bill not being passed by the end of the session. Cariddi said met with the governor's office and looked at other possibilities to get it passed.

 

Instead, DCAM is issuing licenses to start work there and the bill is expected to be passed when the session resumes next year.

 

"It is an interim measure until they can pass the state Legislature," Sieloff said. 

 

Adding to the urgency to start work is the source of the funding. The funding is allocated from the federal government to the states and then spent based on prioritize lists of projects crafted by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. However, the system is a "use or lose it" type and if the money allocated for the year isn't spent, the county loses it. The federal fiscal year ends in October.

 

The timeline led to somewhat of a scramble in town as officials worked to secure those 18 total easements. Finally, on Thursday, the final licenses were signed and the town has done its part to move the project along. 

 

"This is a multi-year project," Sieloff said, estimating 2 1/2 years before completion.