NEWBURYPORT — The City of Newburyport announces that work on the Parker Street Trail project, which includes upgrading the crossing of State Street for pedestrians and bicyclists, will begin on Monday, Oct. 26.
The work will be completed by Aqua Line Utility, Inc. and begin to connect Phase I and Phase II of the Clipper City Rail Trail, significantly improving public safety in the area by providing accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The work will take place in the area surrounding the State Street and Parker Street intersection Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Temporarily lane reductions and detours may be put in place. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes while the work is done.
The project will entail bumping out the curbing at the State Street and Parker Street intersection to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians and bicyclists, adjusting the drainage, installing a defined crosswalk, and installing a pedestrian-activated High-intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) traffic signal.
The project also entails constructing a 400-foot long, 10-foot wide off-road shared-use pathway along the northern side of Parker Street from State Street to the Shepard’s Auto driveway. An adjacent section of trail will eventually be constructed by the developer of the Parker Hill Subdivision as part of their Special Permit. A timber guardrail will separate trail users from vehicles on Parker Street.
Work will begin at the State Street intersection this fall and the work along Parker Street is expected to take place in the spring. Updates will be posted periodically on the City’s website. Residents may also contact Senior Project Manager Geordie Vining at gvining@cityofnewburyport.com with any questions.
Funding for construction of the project is largely supported by a $400,000 Complete Streets grant from the state, with match and design funding to come from Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. This additional funding was approved by the Newburyport Community Preservation Committee and City Council.
“We are thrilled to receive this Complete Streets grant for this project,” Mayor Donna Holaday said. “The Rail Trail is a beloved resource of many in our community, and we look forward to making our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Work will continue through the fall and is expected to wrap up in the spring. Eventually the Parker Street Trail project will connect with a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project designed to construct pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations to cross Route 1 and the Rotary. This work is not expected to begin for at least a year.
For more information, contact Geordie Vining, Senior Project Manager in Newburyport’s Planning Office, at gvining@cityofnewburyport.com.
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