BEVERLY — The city is hoping to land $15.4 million in federal grant money to help build a road over Route 128 that would connect Brimbal Avenue and Dunham Road.
The so-called Brimbal Avenue overpass project was approved by the state in 2005 but has been held up due to a lack of funding. Mayor Bill Scanlon said the project would alleviate traffic on Brimbal Avenue and make 200 acres of land beyond Dunham Road more attractive to develop.
"This project would be a tremendous boon to the city of Beverly from an economic development viewpoint, but also from a safety viewpoint, from a quality-of-life viewpoint," he said.
Scanlon said the city submitted a request with the federal TIGER II transportation program two weeks ago seeking the grant, which would pay 80 percent of the $19.2 million project. The remaining $3.8 million would be paid by the state, he said.
Scanlon said about $600 million in grant money is available through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program, but there is competition among all 50 states for the federal dollars.
"The odds are not easy," he said. "But if you don't try you don't have a chance."
If the city does not get the federal grant, Scanlon is hoping the state will pay the full $19.2 million cost. He said state Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry "has been working hard with the governor's office" to try to secure funding from the state.
The project is under the jurisdiction of the state and is scheduled to begin in 2014, according to MassHighway. It calls for the construction of a series of new ramps and access roads designed to improve traffic flow. An overpass would connect Route 128 to Dunham Road.
Scanlon said the project would reduce traffic by 40 percent on Brimbal Avenue and alleviate the long backups from vehicles trying to turn left onto that street from the Route 128 ramp.
In addition, the overpass would provide direct access from Route 128 to land off Dunham Road near Norwood Pond, making it more attractive for development by private property owners and the city, according to the mayor. The city owns about 50 acres in the area, Scanlon said.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or pleighton@salemnews.com.
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