MassDOT, Mayor Paul Coogan, Lt. Gov. Polito, officials, celebrate start of Route 79, Davol Street Corridor Improvement project

On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler joined Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, Mayor Paul Coogan, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, and Fall River officials celebrated the beginning of the $135 million Route 79 and Davol Street Corridor Improvement project.

The groundbreaking celebrated the start of the transformation of the 1.5-mile Route 79/Davol Street corridor that is expected to provide opportunities for economic development, remove the physical and visual barrier separating the neighborhoods from the Taunton River, and provide multimodal connections from the neighborhoods to the waterfront.

MassDOT states that “the existing Route 79 is being relocated approximately onto the current alignments of northbound and southbound Davol Street, which will allow creation of development parcels along the existing Route 79 alignment. The work also includes, but is not limited to, the design and construction of local street connections to the corridor, including Brightman Street, President Avenue, Hathaway Street, and Turner Street. The project also includes the design and construction of a network of shared use paths and sidewalks, and new traffic signals. The project also requires the design and construction of a new bridge structure and retaining walls, as well as a new drainage system.”

According to MassDOT, a secure right-of-way is necessary for this project and acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands and the land acquisition policy will be presented in the hearing.