BRIDGEWATER — Town Manager Michael Dutton and Department of Public Works Director Azu Etoniru wish to share information with the community on the Town River Restoration project, which will result in the closure of High Street at the High Street Bridge this summer.
As part of the project, the High Street Dam and High Street Bridge will be demolished over a four-month period, with the bridge then being rebuilt to modern standards.
High Street and the bridge will close to traffic on June 15. They are projected to re-open on Oct. 13. Local traffic will be able to access homes and businesses on each side of the bridge during closure.
The four-month closure will impact traffic to the surrounding areas. The town will provide information on recommended alternate routes for motorists and abutters at a later date.
The removal of the High Street (Jenkins) Dam and replacement of the High Street Bridge is part of an ongoing collaborative effort to improve coastal ecosystem resilience in the region by connecting the major tributaries of the Wild & Scenic Taunton River with the main stem, Mount Hope Bay, Narragansett Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The project will reconnect 10 miles of unimpeded river access for multiple species of fish and open 354 acres of river herring spawning and rearing habitat at Lake Nippenicket. Overall, the project aims to restore and strengthen natural ecosystems for the benefit of the coastal community and the environment.
The project is also expected to protect people and property from increasingly severe flooding resulting from global warming. Flooding is identified as the most frequent hazard affecting the town in a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, and road-stream crossing replacement and dam removal are prioritized actions to improve climate resiliency in the Massachusetts State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Change Plan.
The project is being completed by the Town of Bridgewater, in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, the Massachusetts Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the dam owner, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Taunton River Stewardship Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“The removal of the High Street Dam and Bridge is part of a large-scale project that will help improve coastal ecosystem resilience and reduce the impact of flooding in the area,” Town Manager Dutton said. “We understand the inconveniences long-term road closures have, and will share additional information throughout the coming months to help ensure residents in the area and motorists understand and can properly plan for the expected impacts.”
Additional information will be shared as the project start date nears.
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