[MassHistPres] A historic stone bridge in Westport. What to do?

[rcsmitharch at verizon.net]

The Merritt Parkway in Connecticut has 6” x 12” wooden guardrails backed by 3/8” steel plate to replicate the appearance of the historic parkway (pictured on page 3 of the attached link).  It is a solution commonly used in national parks and parkways.  There are also cable systems pictured here that minimize the visual impact of the barriers.

 

Aesthetic_Mar2015.xlsx (dot.gov) <https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/countermeasures/docs/Aesthetic_Mar2015Saferlogo.pdf> 

 

Richard Smith

Swampscott Historical Commission

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Gretchen Schuler
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 6:56 AM
To: Betty Slade <dcolebslade at aol.com>
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] A historic stone bridge in Westport. What to do?

 

Hi Betty,

Is the bridge listed in the Westport Inventory (MACRIS) or also listed in the National Register?  If listed in the NR then yes, there is supposed to be some sort of notice - when using state funds to remedy - a PNF I believe, but if just listed in the inventory I'm not sure that the installation of guard rails would  rise to that level - hopefully others who know will weigh in there.

 

One potential remedy could be COR-TEN steel guardrails.  On scenic roads in Wayland we were able to convince our DPW to use COR-TEN steel guardrails (a long time ago) - they have a rusted look and don't jump out as shiney and as out of place as regular steel guardrails. That is probably the best you can do - although not likely to want to spend the $s to reinstall.

 

Gretchen Schuler, Wayland Historic District Commission

 

On Tue, Sep 20, 2022 at 11:32 AM Betty Slade <dcolebslade at aol.com <mailto:dcolebslade at aol.com> > wrote:

Westport has a listed historic stone bridge on an historic roadway.  Someone began clearing the invasives from the bridge which drew attention to it.  The town took upon itself to put up the typical highway guard rail using Chapter 90 funds.  There does not seem to have been a review before the work was done and no PNF  seems to have been submitted.

 

Neighbors and others are very upset that this type of guardrails has been constructed.  The guard rails destroy the historic look of the bridge and they have diminished the recovery space, among other reasons.

 

After I explained that the listserve was a great resource, I have been asked to consult with the listserve participants about the following questions:

 

1.  Isn't it necessary to file a PNF before such work on a historic object is undertaken?

 

2.  Does anyone have experience with such an issue?  Have remedies been obtained?

 

3.  Are there examples where a different type of guard rail has been used?

 

4.  Do any towns have protocols that town departments such as the highway department must abide by before undertaking such work?

 

Thanks so much for your consideration.

 

Betty Slade

Community Preservation Committee Chair

Westport, Ma.

 

 

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