Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, including project manager Amy Getchell, held another pubic hearing to solicit input to guide construction on the Route 79/Interstate 195 interchange improvement project. Over a hundred interested persons attended the January 9, 2013 event at the Heritage State Park visitors' center to hear phased plans for alternate transportation routes for the expected three-year project. Previously expressed concerns about access for pedestrians and bicyclists resulted in an addendum to the request for proposals from the design team asking them for alternative ways to improve bicycle, pedestrian and related interconnectivity. Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly, representing the City's Bicycle Commission, joined residents Al Lima and Lower Highlands Neighborhood Association president Steve Camara in requesting that these concerns were addressed in the final plans. Lima asked that consideration be given to creating a bicycle route connection to the new Veterans Memorial Bridge that was built with a separate bicycle lane creating the only bicycle path across the Taunton River. Mass in Motion is working with neighboring communities to create a South Coast Bikeway from the Cape to Providence. Click here for the Herald News article. For more information, contact Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly, at 508-324-2405.

(Top row, left and right) Paul Burke, State Representatives David Sullivan. Arts United President Sandy Dennis and Niagara Neighborhood Association member Helen Rego attend the hearing at the Heritage State Park Visitors' Center. (Top row, center) Kevin Cassidy, the MassDOT engineer in charge of the Milliken Boulevard bridge reconstruction, outlines some of the plans for that part of the project. (Row two and three) Residents, including City Councilor Dave Dennis and Flint Neighborhood Association president Carlos Cesar, and Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly listen as Rod Emery of Jacobs Engineering as he describes the plan for alternate traffic routes during construction. (Bottom row, left) Audience members, including Fall River Sewer Division Director Terrance Sullivan, right, listen to the presentation. (Bottom row, center and right) Eleven-year-old Matthew Dias, who has developed an avid interest in the project, takes photos of the construction model.