indigo_wolf - 21-11-2011 at 09:28 AM
Just an FYI
Nahant Causeway work closes Long Beach parking lot
By Cyrus Moulton / The Daily Item
NAHANT - Construction officials shifted the two outbound lanes of the causeway to the middle of the road Friday to begin work - originally scheduled
for this summer - that temporarily closes a section of the parking lot along Long Beach.
"We were supposed to close it in the summer for the next phase, but we worked around it so we didn't have to," said James Caputo, Department of
Conservation and Recreation resident engineer for the causeway project. "We will be working on what was once was the outbound lane and doing all the
... grading of the area, and also working in the parking lot at the beach, adjacent to the Tides."
The $20 million project officially got under way June 10, 2010 and is reconstructing the 1.5-mile long causeway connecting Nahant and Lynn. The
project includes improvements to the road surface and sidewalks, rebuilding the barrier of sloping rocks that absorbs and dissipates the energy of
breaking waves and re-engineering drainage along the road.
Construction officials said in reconstructing the roadway, workers essentially work from Lynn Harbor to Long Beach doing all but the superficial
finishing touches - such as the top coat of pavement, median strips, sidewalks, etc. - before they shift again to the east. Drainage work on what will
become the new inbound lanes ended in August. Then crews began preparing what will be the middle of the road dominated by the median strip.
Friday afternoon, that middle section became the outbound lanes to Lynn. This allows crews to improve drainage to the parking lot and a section of the
final outbound lane, as well as reconfigure the entrance to Long Beach by the Tides Restaurant.
This work, however, will require temporarily closing the free parking lot between the Tides parking area and the location of the booth where visitors
pay for parking.
Pihl Inc. Project Manager Dante Roberto said that an entrance, perhaps a jug handle, will be temporarily constructed so that people can access the
remainder of the beach parking in the summer.
But for now, parking will be limited, although Caputo said that a walking path wide enough for emergency vehicle access has been set off so that
walkers can still access the beach.
"We're trying to tailor (construction) to public needs," Roberto said.
He noted that they wanted to work on the parking area when fewer people would want to access the beach, both for the safety of residents and
construction workers.
ATB,
Sam
cheezycheese - 22-11-2011 at 04:02 AM
Will we still b able to ride there....?
rocfighter - 22-11-2011 at 05:28 AM
There looking for options for parking. There a bunch of wiley and smart guys up there. They'll figure it out.
Telestrat - 22-11-2011 at 08:46 AM
Anyone buggy/landboard at Revere before? I haven't because I was spoiled with Nahant being such a cool place.
I guess we gotta head north? We could go south too but north is closer for me....
Good Harbor in Glouster? Can we buggy/landboard there? Salisbury? Hampton?
indigo_wolf - 22-11-2011 at 10:45 AM
For anyone not on the NEPowerKites mailing list, this is what Dan found out.
I stopped by and had a chat with Jim Caputo, the resident DCR engineer for the construction project, to find out where
we stand with beach access and parking. He is very approachable and seems willing to work with us on issues we may have. He responds quickly to emails
(kind of a first for me with anyone at the DCR) and is willing to meet with the public and talk about any problems or concerns. This is what I got
out of the meeting:
At no time during the construction project will the beach be close for the public's use.
The main parking lot will remain closed until a new entrance can be build, probably won't get done till May of 2012.
The park lot will be opened again during the summer and will be closed again after for construction of the new parking lot.
The small parking lot in front of the Tides (perhaps 20-25 parking spaces) is DCR property and we are free to use it.
The parking lot by the kids play ground is free for us to use.
The parking lot by the ball field is free for us to use during weekends and weekdays after December 15 when construction halt till it restarts in
March. While construction is in effect, it is free to use after 4 pm.
He originally wanted to keep the main parking lot open during the winter with access to it at the ward bath house, but safety concerns caused him to
abandon that idea.
This is how things stand now. If anyone has any ideas on how to improve the situation please speak up, we can always make requests and who knows they
may be granted.
Dan
ATB,
Sam
rocfighter - 22-11-2011 at 12:40 PM
Thanks Sam for passing that info from Dan on. He is a good guy to have around. Very diplomatic and a good rep for us.
I will be in Glouster in January to pick up my daughter from school in the area. I hope we are allowed to play there. Or I can just head down coast
tot Nahant if it is accessible. Not sure of the date yet.