FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		ROUTE 24 EXIT RAMP PLAN IS A GO Preferred design to be greenlighted is one of several options The Herald News, Monday, March 24, 2008 Freetown — The state and town have settled on a plan for a Route 24 exit ramp that both local and state officials agree upon. Following a recent meeting between Fall River officials and town officials with the state Executive Office of Transportation in Boston, both the state and the town lauded a plan that they say will be “the least intrusive” to people and resources in the South Main Street area in between Exits 8 and 9. “The new exit is a “full-service” exit, providing entrance/exit. One of 10 possible design options is the preferred alternative. It’s preferred because it avoids impact with local tribe resources in that immediate area. It is an estimated $60-to-70-million project with construction set to start in 2009,” EOT Director of Communication Klark Jessen said. “In the meantime, environmental work continues with upcoming procurement of a design contract. This will be a significant economic benefit to the region by providing critical access and is a major priority of Governor Patrick and Secretary of Transportation Bernard Cohen.” Selectwoman Lisa A. Pacheco and Town Administrator W. Winn Davis attended the meeting. Pacheco lauded the meeting as a productive one in which all sides made progress. She said other than taking of the land belonging to Freetown ISP, a local business which borders Fall River, the exit option would not be intrusive. “They finally took a proposal and are going forward. It’s a go and it is a high priority; it is a high priority for Mass Highway and (state) Gov. Deval Patrick. “It was a way for Freetown and Fall River to be at the table.” Pacheco said Freetown helped prompt the meeting after making a call regarding an update on the progress of the ramp. Fall River Mayor Bob Correia and Kenneth Fiola Jr., the Executive Vice President of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, also attended the meeting. The ramp project drew controversy last summer when South Main Street residents claimed that Freetown’s input was not reflected in design plans because plans at that point showed the exit would intersect four privately-owned properties — including Freetown ISP and land on which a town-owned well is located. But Pacheco said some of these concerns were taken into consideration when the state unveiled the most recent plans, which do not encroach upon South Main Street residents’ properties. The Route 24 interchange project has been proposed in response to projected economic growth at industrial parks in both Freetown and Fall River. These parks are nearby the proposed ramp in between exits 8 and 9 off Route 24. Officials believe the exit ramp will help alleviate the growing traffic congestion in the area. Back