By Tom Dalton
SALEM — All eyes turn to Bridge Street next week when a state contractor begins the reconstruction of a long-neglected roadway that has been upstaged by its shiny new neighbor — the bypass road along the North River.
Newport Construction of New Hampshire has been awarded a $6.9 million contract, largely with federal stimulus funds, to rebuild a section of Bridge Street (Route 1A) from the Veterans Memorial Bridge to the Howard Street Extension by the downtown.
It's a one-mile stretch of roadway marked by stark contrasts: views of blue harbor and of a looming gas tank, and home to a row of buildings that looks like the municipal version of strange bedfellows — a motel, a closed market, a gun shop and historic homes.
This road project is a key piece in the revitalization of Bridge Street Neck, a historic area where city founder Roger Conant settled, but also a neighborhood that has fallen on hard times.
"Now that the bypass is completed and you're seeing nearly half the traffic off Bridge Street, it really is a neighborhood in transition," Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "A big piece in helping to grow this neighborhood is the (road project)."
For several months, utilities have been working along Bridge Street, getting underground cables laid before the major construction begins. The roadwork is scheduled to begin next week and continue on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
In addition to new utilities, drains and sewers, the state will replace the sidewalks, curbs, traffic signals and street lights. It will remove the top 18 inches of roadway and regrade and repave the street. A new section of the bike path will be constructed.
Most of the road construction will take place this year. The entire project is expected to take nearly two years to complete.
"It's something we've been waiting a long time for, and I hope the state can arrange it so the people are not inconvenienced," said Doug Sabin, temporary chairman of the Bridge Street Neck Neighborhood Association.
"When it's finished, what I envision is a Bridge Street that is not only repaved but with new sidewalks, the historic type of lights and appropriate tree plantings. ... There are a lot of vacant storefronts now, and, hopefully, this will attract new businesses that will spruce up their exteriors so that Bridge Street can be something that Salem citizens will be proud of."
Some business owners are excited about the improvements but also concerned about the effect on traffic.
"Our big thing is going to be communication, really knowing where they're going to be on what dates," said Rob Liani, the owner of Coffee Time Bake Shop, 96 Bridge St. "That communication and that scheduling will be very important to us.
"We always anticipated that the construction year would be the worst year," he said. "From what we understand ... the road is going to stay open the whole time and they'll do it in sections."
Liani, a member of a Salem Chamber of Commerce business group focused on this area, said he also is hopeful that this work will act as a stimulus.
"We're hoping to really lift up the image of the neighborhood," he said.
There are additional business concerns, notably the installation of adequate signs to notify motorists that businesses on the street are open. Merchants are still upset, Liani said, about the poor signage on the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
There are other improvements slated for this area. Neighbors hope the state will fulfill a promise and turn the old Salem-Beverly bridge remnant into a park.
The city has a program targeting foreclosed buildings here and other key properties.
"I tell people all the time," Driscoll said, "'If you're looking for a place to invest in Salem, keep your eye on Bridge Street. It's really going to come back.'"
The city will hold an informational meeting on the project Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Carlton School.
