April 12, 2007

Two public meetings have now taken place on February 27 and March 8, 2007 to discuss the future of the Echo Bridge Railings restoration project. The meetings were attended by representatives of the MWRA, the Newton Historical Commission, The Friends of Hemlock Gorge, the Upper Falls Community Action Committee, and the general public. No final decisions have been reached as to how to proceed, but at least 4 possible solutions have been laid on the table by the MWRA as a starting point for further discussions. To see the MWRAs initial set of proposals, with background and costs, click here. For comparison, to see a 1997 MWRA proposal, click here. There are complex issues of cost, safety regulations, and historical fidelity that must all be sorted out going forward.

Summer, 2007

Progress on the Echo Bridge Railing repairs is continuing, albeit slowly. The monies appropriated remain available, if insufficient for an ideal repair. The MWRA is conducting in house studies of alternatives. We will keep you posted.

September, 2007

The MWRA has compiled and released a detailed report on the Echo Bridge Railings. Some half dozen alternative approaches to repair and restoration are outlined in detail. Costs range from around $500,000 to $1 million.