[MassHistPres] question about guard rails

[Donna Wiley]

My answer is not about guard rails in specific but about process. Our
Historical Commission is invited to comment on every Town project requiring
a site review by the Planning Board, and we also hear from MassDOT before
any work on state roads that bisect the Town. I have only chaired the
Historical Commission in Whately for five years, and I assumed that these
practices were common across Massachusetts. Perhaps Jenn Doherty or others
could comment on this.

Donna Wiley
Whately Historical Commission


On Thu, Apr 21, 2022 at 8:05 AM Jenny O'Neill <
westporthistory at westporthistory.net> wrote:

> I am seeking guidance on the following issue:
>
> Last year the town of Westport highway department installed two metal
> guard rails along Drift road which is a rural, winding, scenic road (not
> designated as an official scenic road however) and not a busy highway. The
> guard rails run along a more recent small bridge, adjacent to the historic
> Kirby Bridge on Drift Road, ruining the historic nature of the site. The
> rails seem to be excessively long for the location. The project was
> funded by Chapter 90 state money.  It seems that the town was not really
> aware of the historical significance of the site, and when applying for
> state funds, they did not "check the box" for "historic site" on the
> application form.  The bridge is identified in the MHC inventory.
>
>
>
> Some people would like the guard rails to be removed, but the town is
> unlikely to agree to that from a safety and liability perspective.
>
>
> There does not seem to be any local oversight or community input for these
> projects.
>
>
> I would appreciate any  thoughts on/experience with creating a protocol
> for the town to review DOT funded work from a historic preservation
> perspective. Might this be a responsibility for the local historical
> commission?
>
>
> I would also be interested in learning about any
> acceptable alternatives to metal guard rails. I have been informed that
> some of the alternatives are costly when compared to the steel guard rails.
>
>
> I am aware of the option of scenic road designation for the future but
> unfortunately do not think this would be an easy alternative.
>
>
> Please share any similar experiences of / solutions to unsightly guard
> rails on quiet rural roads.
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> Jenny O'Neill, Executive Director
> Westport Historical Society
> westporthistory at westporthistory.net
> PO Box N188, 830 Drift Road, Westport MA 02790
> 508 636 6011
> www.wpthistory.org
> www.PaulCuffe.org
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
>


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