[MassHistPres] question about guard rails

[Stacy Spies]

Years ago, I worked on the historic designation for the Garden State
Parkway in NJ and sensitively-designed guardrails were a concern.  We ended
up using the Merritt Parkway in CT as a model.  The Merritt has
steel-backed timber guardrails that meet AASHTO regulations.
https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Highway-Design/Merritt-Parkway-Special-Designs
[image: image.png]

Stacy Spies



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
>


-- 
Stacy Spies
Chair, Hopkinton Center Historic District Commission
<https://www.hopkintonma.gov/hhdc/>
Facebook @HopkintonHistoricDistrict
<https://www.facebook.com/HopkintonHistoricDistrict/>

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