Did Mass Highway really listen to Route 12 property owners?
Is it safe to have four lanes transition into two lanes?
Did Mass Highway look at other options?
Why not use the railroad tracks as an alternative route?
Why four lanes instead of three lanes with a center turning-lane like on John Fitch Highway, in Fitchburg?
How will my customers or I turn left to either enter or exit my parking lot? How can it be easier and safer to turn left across a four-lane road versus a two-lane road?
Won't this project destroy the value of my property?
Will this project put us out of business?
How long will construction last ?
Will a project schedule be made available to the public?
What if a truck is blocking my business entrance or driveway?
What if my property is damaged by the construction process?

Did Mass Highway really listen to Route 12 property owners?

We've talked with a great many property owners and local officials - - many who opposed the original plan - - who have expressed pleasant surprise noting that Mass Highway apparently did listen to local property owner concerns. Most notably, all public comments prior to the informational sessions indicated that the primary opposition on Route 12 involved land takings and the establishment of a "four lane highway" in their neighborhood. After listening to these concerns, Mass Highway has created a plan for the endcaps of the project that calls for just two lanes (not four lanes) and which can be built almost entirely within the public right of way. In other words, they really did listen and deserve credit for offering a legitimate compromise that limits the impact to property owners while making Route 12 safer and more efficient.

Is it safe to have four lanes transition into two lanes?

The length of the four lane section of Route 12 is just about one half mile. With three lighted intersections within this short distance, Mass Highway is really only installing one through-lane and one left or right turning lane. Because of the close proximity of these three lights, it only makes sense to extend the turning lane throughout this corridor thereby creating four lanes. After these intersections, Mass Highway indicates that it has provided for a significant distance to allow for the safe and efficient transition from four to two lanes and that they are simply following well accepted and proven federal standards for road construction projects.

Did Mass Highway look at other options?

Yes! The following is a quote from Mass Highway District 3 Director Tom Waruzila: "We looked at using the railroad tracks, three lanes, and two lanes with wide shoulders. All were discussed at public meetings and they were ruled out."

Why not use the railroad tracks as an alternative route?

CSX, applied to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to "abandon" this rail line. Upon approval, CSX removed all of the existing tracks, BUT THEY STILL RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL ESTATE. If the state or local communities or property owners petition the STB to allow for alternative uses of this property, CSX's real estate division will need to negotiate with those applicants for proper compensation. In other words, the abandoning of this property DOES NOT automatically mean that it is turned over to the state or the cities for their use without costs. That said, we've often heard from many retailers and residents along Route 12 that they don't want traffic diverted behind their property along the rail bed either. Likewise, the residents along Route 12 would then have a road close to their front and right in their backyard. In addition, the residents of Monarch Street and Riverside Apartments would have a new road in close proximity to their homes. This new road will require four-way intersections at the junction of State, Nichols and Benson Street, in close proximity to existing four-way intersections where new lights are proposed. The rail road tracks are also very close to Route 12 in the area of the Bemis Road interchange. Lastly, CSX does not own all of the real estate on which it's rail line exists. From 1848-1914, the railroad "purchased" certain easements granting it use of property for the railroad. If the rail line is abandoned, this property may, in fact, revert back to the prior owner and their descendants.

Why four lanes instead of three lanes with a center turning-lane like on John Fitch Highway, in Fitchburg?

Even after curb cuts are consolidated on Route 12, as called for in the preliminary design, the number of driveways, entrances and exits on Route 12 that will be immediately across the road from each other will be extensive. As a consequence, this situation will set up multiple and continuous points of conflict in a center turning-lane that will result in head-on collisions. Vehicles cannot safely use a center turning-lane to pass those cars turning right into a parking area or side street. If cars use the center turning-lane for this purpose, they may collide with cars correctly using this lane to turn left. As a result, cars turning right will need to slow down in order to make right-hand turns and traffic behind that car will be slowed down resulting in additional congestion. In other words, a center turning-lane only helps to move cars through the corridor when they are turning left, not when they turn right. Moreover, a center turning-lane must be significantly larger than the 11-foot lanes now envisioned in the four-lane design. This means that a three-lane road also cannot be designed to fit within the current 50 foot public right of way and that land acquisitions will still be required.

How will my customers or I turn left to either enter or exit my parking lot? How can it be easier and safer to turn left across a four-lane road versus a two-lane road?

Here's what will be different, after this project is completed. First, there will be signalized intersections at Erdman Way, State, Nichols, Battles, and Benson Streets, and Bemis Road. The addition of two such intersections -- Nichols/Battles and Benson Street -- will create more gaps in the traffic, as those proceeding North and South along Route 12 will come to a controlled (versus the current random) stop at these intersections. Second, the ability of a left-turning vehicle to wait for such a gap while stopped in the left lane -- without bringing all the cars behind it to a standstill -- will move traffic more efficiently through this corridor. Similarly, cars will also be able to slow down in the right-lane to turn right without slowing down the vehicles behind them. In both instances, this will reduce the number of times traffic is forced to slow down in a random and uncontrolled fashion. There will be less congestion and, therefore, more breaks in the traffic. Third, the four-lane design will effectively reduce -- by 50% -- the length of those lines of traffic that now are confined to just one lane while traveling through this corridor. The ability to use two lanes in each direction will again create more gaps between cars, making access into and out-of exits and entrances safer and far more efficient. In this way, we are convinced that there will be more openings allowing for safer left turns out of and into parking lots, driveways and side roads along Route 12.

Won't this project destroy the value of my property?

Our analysis strongly suggests that the value of property within this corridor will increase once the project is complete. We believe this is true based on specific inquiries we've received from prospective commercial ventures interested in locating sites along this section of Route 12, if and when the project is complete. In the judgment of these business owners and real estate professionals, this corridor will be far more viable with the completion of the improvements -- providing safe and efficient access to Route 2 for the residents and consumers who live and shop in Fitchburg and Leominster. For local officials, higher property values will also result in increased revenues via new growth -- an indirect benefit that may also be important for you to consider.

Will this project put us out of business?

There is no doubt that during construction, local businesses along Route 12 will be impacted. That is always the case when you reconstruct any road on which a business is located. Mass Highway has made it clear that they will NOT close the road at any time unless an underground gas line is struck or some other public safety emergency takes place. In addition, Mass Highway makes every effort to ensure that access to and from a business property is always guaranteed. In some cases, this involves temporary entrances or exits as well as adopting a construction schedule in consultation with local property owners.

Please understand that this does not mean that we expect every current business located along Route 12 to succeed and remain in business there. Our economic development experience tells us that, more often than not, there are a range of issues involved in a business' decision to grow, relocate or close. The completion of this project will make it easier for most business' existing customers to safely and efficiently patronize the local stores that they've always enjoyed. Over time, these commercial enterprises will benefit from the 30,000 cars that will safely and conveniently travel by every day.

How long will construction last?

The project currently has a completion date of May 9th, 2009. However, not much work is expected to be done in 2009, with most work being completed in 2007 & 2008. The project is slated for a 2-year construction period, but Winter in Massachusetts is usually not conductive for construction so work will start to slow down around Thanksgiving & pick-up again during the Spring thaw around April. Some utility work may continue through Winter.

Funding for the Route 12 project is included in the currently endorsed FFY 2008 – 2010 Montachusett Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Federal and state funding through a combination of CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) and HPP (High Priority Program) funds have been identified in the currently endorsed Montachusett Transportation Improvement Program over Federal Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009 to construct these improvements.

Will a project schedule be made available to the public?

According to MassHighway, the project is too fluid to have a set schedule for how, when and where all of the work will be done over the next two years.  However, as plans progress appropriate parties will be contacted in a timely fashion.  Also, the Chamber will continue to update this website with new information.

What if a truck is blocking my business entrance or driveway?

The contractor will make every effort to avoid this scenario but as with any construction project, trucks will need to be parked along the route.  The first course of action should be to ask a nearby worker or the driver of the vehicle if the truck could be moved to allow access to the blocked location.  More likely than not, this simple action will resolve the issue.  If the problem persists, contact the project’s Field Office on Erdman Way.  Remember, everyone involved with this project wants it to go smoothly from the contractor to the MassHighway engineers to the utility companies.

What if my property is damaged by the construction process?

99% of the time the appropriate party (MassHighway or the Construction Company) will replace what is disturbed. If property is physically disturbed by MassHighway or the Construction Company they will restore the property to its previous, if not better, condition. For instance, loam and seed would be put down for areas where grass is removed. However, please note that a 20-year old crack in a foundation that is discovered at the time of the project will not be fixed by project parties.