August 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mayor Holds Meeting with Bradford Square Merchants;
Mayor Pushes for Beautification, Streetscape Enhancements for Bradford Square

BRADFORD SQUARE- Mayor James J. Fiorentini met with about a dozen Bradford Square merchants Thursday at Latitude Sports Club in Bradford Square to provide an update on the proposed South Main Street/ Route 125 reconstruction project. This is part of the Mayor’s efforts to conduct further public outreach on this important project.

The Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) is proposing a $14.5 million, 3-year project to reconstruct the roadway from the Basiliere Bridge to Boston Road in Ward Hill. This project would also improve the drainage of the roadway and extend sidewalks on both sides of Main Street all the way from the Basiliere Bridge to Ward Hill. The project features new traffic lights and pedestrian safety control features too.

“It’s important to me that this project not only improves the roadway and vehicular safety of South MainStreet, but that it also makes Bradford Square an attractive destination with street trees, plantings, benches, decorative lighting and a sense of place that attracts more business and pedestrians to the area,” noted Mayor Fiorentini. “It’s also critical that we maintain on-street and off-street parking for theseimportant businesses,” added the Mayor.

Despite being funded by the State and Federal governments in 1999, this project has been plagued by design delays over the past decade. Last year, the Mayor demanded a resolution to the issues delaying the project and he gave an ultimatum to the contractor to finish the design. The project is past 75% design stage and appears to be ready to begin in 2010.

Nine years after the last public hearing, the Mayor decided to go back and solicit feedback from the many merchants in the Bradford Square area who would benefit from this project. There were several constructive comments concerning preservation of parking on the southbound side of the street, as well as intersection improvements by Ferry Road and South Central Street.

“It’s a priority for me to get this project done and done right, with important feedback from the businesses who will experience this the most,” noted Mayor Fiorentini.