Bly Bridge repair a traffic nightmare before it begins

SAUGUS – The Belden Bly Bridge project has already begun to stir up traffic trouble and it hasn’t even started yet.The Selectmen spent a lot of time Tuesday debating a legal opinion regarding Wheelabrator’s request to temporarily use Ballard Street during the reconstruction period of the Belden Bly Bridge.The first phase of work to shore up the bridge before work on the temporary bridge gets underway is set to begin Dec. 15. The work will effectively shut down Route 107 at the bridge, forcing detours on both sides of the river.Wheelabrator, locally known as RESCO, has asked the town to temporarily waive a deal that prohibits RESCO trucks from using Ballard Street.In his opinion on whether the town could ban the trucks, Town Counsel John Vasapolli wrote that the use of certain trucks are authorized to operate on routes of “reasonable access” subject to approval of the state’s highway department. Any restrictions, however, are also subject to the commonwealth’s approval and “any alternative routes require a safety evaluation for the purpose of determining if such route is capable of safely accommodating the operating characteristics of the type of vehicle.”Selectman Peter Rossetti said he thought RESCO wasn’t going to be the only trucking company the town might have problems with during the bridge repairs. Rossetti said the town received similar correspondence from Aggregate Industries as well.Rossetti suggested the board bring in officials from both companies and the highway department, as well as area residents, to hash out the issue.But Selectman Michael Kelleher said he thinks it would be best for the board to let sleeping dogs lie for the time being.Kelleher argued that RESCO hadn’t actually been before the board asking for anything yet and, until it does, it’s not a can of worms he wants to open.That said, Kelleher also said he is not in favor of accommodating the trash-to-energy plant’s request.”Ballard Street will be pummeled,” he said. “Neighbors will already have to put up with extra traffic and now truck traffic? Let them find another route.”The only other route for RESCO would be down Route 107 and into Revere. Traffic Control Officer Lt. Stephen Sweezey warned that the town could not simply deny any trucks access to local roads without abiding by certain state requirements like conducting a study that would provide a plan for alternative routes.”The alternative routes is where it usually falls down because now you’re moving the (traffic) problem from one neighborhood to another.”Or in this case if the board forced RESCO to use Route 107 it would be would be pushing its trucking problems off on another community?Revere.”No one wants trucking in their neighborhood, but unfortunately society depends on the trucking of goods and services,” Sweezey said.While Rossetti pressed for a meeting of the minds on the issue, Kelleher pressed to let Town Manager Andrew Bisignani handle the issue and come to them with final plan.Castinetti wondered what options the town would have if it banned trucks on Ballard Street, but the edict was ignored.The board eventually agreed to hold a public hearing on the issue with residents, but no date was set.