by Neil W. McCabe

Two members of the city’s Beacon Hill delegation March 29 met with top officials of Mass Highway and representatives city of Somerville to discuss the start of the long-awaited complete renovation of the Lowell Street Bridge.

“I am pleased to finally see some responsiveness from Mass Highway, our meeting cleared the air and I believe will get us back on track. I trust they will come prepared for this upcoming meeting,” said State Sen. Charles E. Shannon Jr., D-Somerville.

Officials will discuss the plan’s details at a April 13 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Visiting Nurses Association home 259 Lowell St., he said.

“We are encouraged that work is finally beginning, that we have established a process for continued neighborhood information, and that the contract completion date is July 2006,” said Patricia D. Jehlen, D-Somerville.

“We expect to have all the questions about construction answered at the April 13 meeting,” Jehlen said.

"We’re pleased that the state has agree to come to address neighborhood concerns about the timeline and hours of operation for this project," said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. 

"Representative Jehlen and Senator Shannon, deserve credit for keeping the state’s feet to the fire and making sure we finally see progress on this project,” the mayor said.

State and local officials, on behalf of Somerville residents, have frequently expressed extreme frustration with Mass Highway on the interminable delays getting the vital transportation project started, Shannon said.

Compounding these delays, a lack of information was evident in the last two neighborhood meeting held to brief residents on most aspects of the project, the senator said.

Shannon said at the meeting he and Jehlen secured a commitment from Mass Highway for accountability sessions with the two to monitor the Lowell Street Bridge project’s progress and to hold additional neighborhood meetings and release contractor building schedule, Shannon said.

Mass Highway has agreed to hold another neighborhood meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 13th, at 6:30PM, at the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), at 259 Lowell Street, he said.

In addition, Mass Highway will post real-time updates and general information on their Web site: mass.gov/eotc, Shannon said.