New bridge over Route 25 part of South Plymouth interchange plan?
by Kathryn Koch - WickedLocal.com

PLYMOUTH - A new bridge over Route 25 as proposed by engineers for Plymouth Rock Studios would direct traffic to the studio rather than onto Bourne Road and interfering with other traffic.

While stressing that a bridge is just another option being considered, MassDevelopment Project Manager Edmund Starzec introduced the concept to members of the Plymouth 1000 Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

Starzec said the concept of a bridge as proposed by the engineering firm of Coler & Colantonio as part of plans for a new interchange would reduce traffic on the portion of Bourne Road in the vicinity of Route 25.

With a majority of the traffic expected to spill onto Route 25 from the west, off Route 495, vehicles would have to go either under or over the highway. The bridge would be an alternative to Bourne Road for crossing the highway.

Starzec said the state wants to hold a public workshop focusing on interchange options and asked the CAC to host the meeting he estimated could take place in a month. He did not suggest a date but said the public comment will be taken into consideration along with trip generation and other figures that will be included in an interchange justification report to be submitted to MassHighway.

Attorney Ed Angley, representing Plymouth Rock Studios, said Coler & Colantonio is in the middle of surveying the area around the 1,000 acres of town-owned land, about 350 acres of which would be set aside for the studio. He said engineers are working to establish boundaries, study topography and map wetlands.

Angley was explaining to resident Paul Hapgood why some of his South Plymouth neighbors see red marks in their backyards. Hapgood said he has been approached by a number of people questioning the presence of the markings.

CAC member Alle Lanza-Cosgrove suggested that surveyors let people know beforehand that they will be marking near their homes.

Lanza-Cosgrove asked a question many people have been raising since news broke that another group plans to build a studio in Weymouth at the old Naval air base.

Plymouth Rock Studios development team member Joe DiLorenzo said having two studios would be good for Massachusetts, but the design of the South Plymouth studio would be superior.

“We think we will stand heads above everybody,” he said.

Plymouth Rock Studios has hired The Shindler Perspective Inc., a California-based company, to conduct an economic impact study of the site. DiLorenzo said the part of the impact study related to jobs should be ready for presentation to the advisory committee in about a month, and the portion related to the multiplier effect, or the impact the studio project would have on the overall economy, should be completed by April 1.

DiLorenzo said the next step for the studio will be a meeting within the week with the public works department to discuss water and sewer issues.