PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Route 24 Interchange 8B project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), a critical component of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Massachusetts Recovery Plan to build transportation systems critical to job creation and lasting economic development in communities across the Commonwealth.  

The project has constructed Interchange 8B, in Freetown, Massachusetts between the existing exits 8 and 9. The goals of the project included reducing congestion at Exits 8 and 9 and on South Main Street while providing access to the new Fall River Executive Park.  Elements to the project were constructed in Fall River. Achieving these goals required that several construction efforts were clustered together under a single project.

Major components of this project included:

• Construction of a new street, to be known as Executive Park Drive which now connects Riggenbach Road and South Main Street, provides access to the Fall River Executive Park and serves the Exit 8B ramps.
• The alignment of a short segment of South Main Street was shifted to the west to allow it to connect in a safe, signalized T-intersection with Executive Park Drive.
• A new bridge to carry Executive Park Drive over Route 24 was built.
• Entrance and exit ramps to connect Route 24 north and southbound to Executive Park Drive were constructed.
• A wildlife crossing, large enough to accommodate deer was built under Route 24 north of the new interchange.

There were several possible options reviewed prior to selecting the preferred alternative that could have achieved the needs laid out above. The selected option does not result in the taking of any homes or businesses and required only minor strip takings of land. The project area also contains sites of general historic significance and particular importance to the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and the Mashpee Tribe. All of these sites were surveyed by the project’s archaeological consultants, flagged and fenced to ensure that they were not damaged by construction activities. Tribal Historic Preservation Officers from both tribes were involved in the design process and visited the sites during construction to monitor their wellbeing.

A Design/Build Project

To speed construction, work preceded using design/build methods. In traditional building projects, one firm is responsible for creating a design which is then put out to bid for construction. In a design/build process, the same team is responsible for designing and constructing a structure. This approach allows a project to be completed with greater speed and often at lower cost.  In the case of the Route 24 Interchange 8B project, use of design/build methods allowed the project to be completed almost a year ahead of schedule.

Timeline

Notice to proceed for this project was granted by MassDOT Highway Division in November of 2009. The project fully opened to traffic in January, 2012. Both 2010 and 2011 were busy years for the Exit 8B project. Major components of the two construction years were as follows:

Year 2010:

• Construction of the wildlife crossing north of the new interchange.
• Construction Executive Park Drive, the new segment of South Main Street and the new exit and entrance ramps up to the base course or rough pavement.
• Construction of the substructure of the new bridge to carry Executive Park Drive over Route 24.

Year 2011:

• Construction of the segment of Executive Park Drive from the Exit 8B ramps to the new alignment of Main Street.
• Construction of the bridge superstructure.
• All new road ways paved to a finish course for a smooth, quiet riding surface.
• Installation of all signage and signals.

To see a graphic of how all of these project elements were completed over the life of the project, please click here.