NAHANT — The Nahant Conservation Commission is raising concerns following a recent meeting with state transportation representatives about the ongoing use of a staging area tied to the Northern Strand Extension project, citing safety, environmental, and communication issues.
The discussion stems from a Friday meeting with Department of Transportation (DOT) officials regarding the Northern Strand bike path lay-down area located at the entrance of the causeway.
According to Conservation Agent Kristin Kent, the site has been in use since July 2024 and remains active nearly two years later, with a significant amount of material still stored there.
“I think the primary concern initially was there’s a lot of material here, this seems to be dragging on, ” Kent said. “And as we dug into it, we realized that DOT…never told us that this is how they plan to use this area.”
Kent also noted that when the project was originally approved, the proposal focused on installing a bike path.
“There was no discussion about this being the lay-down area for the Nahant and the Lynn project,” Kent added.
The prolonged use of the site has raised new concerns as the region approaches its busy spring and summer seasons. With increased foot traffic expected near the beach and recreational areas, the presence of construction materials and debris near roadways has prompted safety and environmental questions.
“There’s a lot of material that’s stored along the road,” Kent stated. “We’re concerned about safety moving forward and how much longer this area is gonna be used in this way.”
Environmental impacts are also under scrutiny, particularly regarding planned tree planting outlined in the original proposal. Member Mark Patek pointed out that extended storage of heavy materials may have compromised soil conditions.
“The storing of all that material for two years on top of the earth does not facilitate trees growing in the future,” Patek said.
Kent agreed, noting, “It’s pretty heavily compacted now… there’s probably concerns about the success of trees unless they do some significant soil work.”
Project timelines remain uncertain. A contractor indicated that additional sidewalk work requested by the City of Lynn could extend construction. “He mentioned that it might extend into the fall of 2027, which seems like a really long time,” Kent said.
Members also questioned whether DOT followed proper procedures regarding staging and material storage. “Their opinion is that those aren’t applicable here, and we disagree,” Kent said, adding that the issue is still under review.
Further complicating matters is the scope of the project itself. While only a portion of the bike path runs through the immediate area, the site is being used to support construction across a much larger stretch.
Kent also explained the staging area that goes from Walmart on the Lynnway to the Market Street section of Lynn.
“We’re only getting 1,800 linear feet of the project, but we’re housing all the materials for it,” she said.
Some members suggested that alternative locations could have been used for storage, but acknowledged that convenience and coordination between agencies may have played a role.
“I think this was an easy way to do it for them,” Kent stated, “And I don’t know if it was a miscommunication about not telling us.”
With more questions than answers, officials are now considering next steps, including potential enforcement action. Under the Wetlands Protection Act, an enforcement order, including a possible stop-work component, could be issued without a full board vote.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Kent said. “I don’t want to stop the project. I don’t think that’s productive. But at the very least, we need to clean up what’s going on there.”
For now, the commission is giving DOT additional time to respond. “I’d like to get some answers from them by the end of the week,” Kent stated, adding that further updates will be shared as discussions continue.
As the project moves forward, the balance between progress, safety, and environmental stewardship remains at the forefront of local concerns.
