Islanders have designs on the Lagoon Bridge

By Janet Hefler
Published: October 9, 2008

After six years of discussion, studies, and public hearings, plans for a permanent Lagoon Pond drawbridge replacement finally became a reality. On October 1, Parsons Transportation Group, in conjunction with MassHighway, presented a proposed design during a public meeting at the Martha's Vineyard Commission offices.

"We want to get your input on the permanent bridge," MassHighway bridge project manager Steve McLaughlin told members of the Lagoon Pond drawbridge committee (LPDC), Martha's Vineyard Commission staff, and the public at the meeting. Then, as a next step, he said MassHighway will direct Parsons to complete a 25-percent design plan.

In 2003, MassHighway announced plans to replace the failing Lagoon Pond drawbridge, starting with a temporary bridge, now under construction, next to the existing bridge. Once the temporary bridge is built, the existing bridge will be demolished, and a permanent bridge built in its place. Parsons was chosen as the overall contractor in charge of design and most of the planning for the permanent bridge.

One variation of the proposed permanent Lagoon Pond drawbridge design depicts a hip-roofed bridge-tender's hut, with other options shown in the cutouts.
Illustrations by the Parsons Transportation Group, courtesy of the Martha's Vineyard Commission

The temporary bridge is slated for completion in September 2009 and the permanent bridge in 2013. Mr. McLaughlin, project manager for both bridges, said at last week's meeting that the cost of the temporary bridge is estimated at $9.3 million and the permanent bridge at $35.7 million.

At a public planning session for the permanent drawbridge about three years ago, Islanders said they would like a new bridge that allows for better boating access in and out of the Lagoon, straightens a "dog leg" peninsula that juts into the navigational channel, incorporates a multi-user pedestrian/bike path, and is unobtrusive.

Based on the results of several studies, including a marine clearance study that tracked the number and height of boats going in and out of the Lagoon, Parsons Engineering drafted a bridge type study report from which the recommended design was derived.

At last week's meeting, a team from Parsons Transportation Group presented Power Point illustrations of the proposed permanent drawbridge design, using a three-dimensional program that offered views from every angle.

Parsons project manager Leslie Haines said that replacing the deteriorating and unreliable existing bridge provides opportunities to improve sight distances and increase vertical clearance to minimize the drawbridge openings.

Coming up with a design to eliminate the "dog leg" peninsula proved challenging, as it required shifting the channel slightly, Ms. Haines said. Although the goal was to move the channel by 30 feet, the Parsons design team determined that with the bridge's current configuration, it would require an 80-foot bascule span to accomplish that, which would affect the bridge profile and cost more money.

Making the bridge higher also was not a good option, because the higher the bridge, the longer and steeper the approaches would have to be and the greater the possibility of encroachment on the entrance to Eastville Beach on the Oak Bluffs side.

Instead, the design team came up with the idea of using a 50-foot bascule span and moving it one span closer towards Tisbury, so that it is completely outside the existing channel. The resulting 48-foot shift allows for a second channel under the fixed part of the bridge, enabling more boats to go in and out of the Lagoon with fewer drawbridge openings.

The shift in the channel also will aid in the transition during the time the temporary and permanent bridges are in place side-by-side in improving navigability and sight lines for boaters. The clearance under the new bridge will be from 2 to 4 feet higher than it is now, depending on which channel is used.

The permanent bridge construction will take 12 to 14 months. Ms. Haines said the boating channel will have to be closed to marine traffic for a period of time at some point during construction in order to cure concrete. In a follow-up call this week, LPDC chairman Melinda Loberg said the closure is estimated to last 12 to 14 weeks, and all efforts will be made to avoid impacting boating season.

The proposed new drawbridge will be wider than the existing bridge, with two 11-foot wide traffic lanes, two 4-foot wide shoulders, a 6-foot wide sidewalk on the operator's side, and a 10-foot wide multi-user path for pedestrians and bicyclists, as suggested in public hearings.

Mechanical engineer Jeff Keyt designed a set of warning gates and barrier gates that will be installed at each end of the bridge. When not in use, the gates fold down and swing to the side of the guardrails. Mr. Keyt said they are based on similar ones used for the first time on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge that spans the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

Temporary bridge update

Work begins this week on installing abutment piles for the temporary bridge on the west side of the drawbridge. The pile-driving will take about two months, according to MassHighway project manager Steve McLaughlin.

In a recent phone call, Lagoon Pond drawbridge committee chairman Melinda Loberg explained that work on the temporary bridge project came to a halt in the last few weeks because the contractor, Pihl, had completed everything that could be done up to the point of receiving a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard allowing the pile-driving and work in the water.

Pihl had delayed applying for the permit until finalizing a design of the movable span of the temporary drawbridge, which affects the height and spacing of the pilings. Ms. Loberg said the design will be presented and discussed at the next construction meeting between MassHighway and Pihl on October 15 at the Dukes County Administration offices at 9 Airport Road.

Architect Bill Lockwood said the bridge-tender's hut will be built last. He showed four different versions of the structure with varying roof styles, including peaked, hip (slanted on all sides), sloped, and rounded, and different facings for the building, such as faux stone and brick. The hip roof generated the most favorable comments among the meeting-goers.

Mr. Lockwood said the bottom of the bridge will be exposed steel. Unlike the old drawbridge, the new one will not have the unattractive cribbing underneath that limits boaters.

One concern, Ms. Haines said, is the visual impact of the retaining wall underneath the bridge on the Eastville Beach side, which will be 10 feet high. She suggested that a bench seat might be incorporated into the wall, which could be made of rubble or stone instead of concrete, to make it more attractive as well as functional.

It is still a goal to provide access to the water from the bridge, Mr. McLaughlin said, although it appears a staircase will only work on the Tisbury side. A staircase would have to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) criteria, and a ramp also would be required, which presents problems in construction because of salt marsh areas.

Mr. McLaughlin encouraged the LPDC and members of the public to weigh in with their opinions on what the permanent bridge should look like in terms of style.

Ms. Loberg recalled that in past public discussions about the permanent bridge design and aesthetics, Islanders said they would like a bridge that looks similar to the old one.

"Keep the profile as low as possible - the less we notice it, the better," suggested Tisbury selectman Denys Wortman.

Lighting options were not addressed. Patrick King of Oak Bluffs said he would like to see a computer illustration of the bridge lighted at night, showing navigation lights and bridge lights. Bob Maciel, bridge-tender for 27 years, agreed that lighting is very important. "It worries people when there are no lights, and it's dangerous," he said. Tisbury department of public works director Fred LaPiana suggested using LED lights, which would be less expensive and weather better.

A few people asked about recycling the temporary bridge or leaving part of it in place for a fishing pier once the permanent bridge is built. Mr. McLaughlin said plans call for the temporary bridge to be demolished by the permanent bridge contractor, because it is considered surplus and reflected as such in the contract. Also, the state requires removal of the temporary bridge, as well as the fill that was put down to the Lagoon to construct it, he added.

Mr. McLaughlin said a public hearing will be held in about six months once sketches are completed at the 25-percent design stage, and the final design completed in about 18 months.

Ms. Haines said final decisions on the finishing touches on the bridge and bridge-tender's hut may be addressed at the design public hearing. However, she added, "We need to hear from people now."

In a follow-up call after the meeting, Ms. Loberg said the LPDC will discuss the design proposal, sort through suggestions they received from people at the meeting, and compile a written list of observations, suggestions, and requests for changes to send to Parsons through Mr. McLaughlin.

Ms. Loberg said she would encourage members of the public to contact the Martha's Vineyard Commission at 508-693-3453 with any suggestions or opinions they might have about the bridge design or to attend the next LPDC meeting at 9 am on October 29 at the Martha's Vineyard Commission offices.