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Quincy sues to block return of Long Island Bridge; says new bridge could prove as likely to fall into the sea as the old one
By adamg on Fri, 04/30/2021 - 3:11pm
Quincy today sued the state in an effort to overturn its approval of Boston's plans to rebuild the Long Island Bridge, saying the state should hold all new hearings that would prove Quincy's assertions the new bridge would prove as unsafe as the one torn down in 2015, that it would become useless as sea levels rise and that the road leading to the bridge on Moon Island is itself in imminent danger of collapse.
In its suit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, the City of Presidents alleges the Hub's plan to simply shore up most of the concrete "piers" that held up the old bridge, and only replace a couple of them is pretty damn stupid given that they're all in pretty said shape thanks to the harsh conditions of Boston Harbor, and that the method proposed by Boston to repair the piers is stupid and will by default likely lead to the bridge failing again, and Quincy really doesn't want to become that city that goes "We told you so."
In addition to new hearings, Quincy also wants authorization to conduct its own detailed inspections of the piers to prove its assertions.
Boston shut the original bridge, built in 1951, in 2015, forcing the closure of the substance-abuse and homeless programs on Long Island. Boston then had contractors tear down the roadway - but leave the supports in place for eventual construction of a new bridge. Although Long Island belongs to Boston, the road leading to the bridge goes through Quincy's Squantum neighborhood, and Quincy has been fighting since 2015 to block and restoration of the bridge.
In its complaint, Quincy does not talk about why Boston wants to re-build the bridge - to create a regional substance-abuse campus - but instead on the hows.
Quincy says Boston's decision to use "limpets," essentially waterproof boxes strapped around the piers to allow workers to fill cracks and the like, sucks because these structures won't let workers get down below the bottom of the harbor and find and repair the really serious problems Quincy is sure are there.
Instead, Quincy wants Boston to use "cofferdams," which would completely surround each pier and provide a larger dry area in which workers could dig below the harbor bottom and repair major issues with the piers. Quincy acknowledges Boston's assertion that this method would have greater potential environmental impact, which might require closer scrutiny of the work by environmental regulators, but Quincy isn't the one who wants to re-open the bridge.
Quincy also says the Moon Island road that leads to the bridge is itself in bad shape - and sits atop an abandoned 19th-centure sewer - and charges Boston has yet to say how it's going to deal with this issue.
Quincy says it tried to bring all of this up in a hearing before the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, but that a hearing officer there improperly waved off its concerns and overrode a Quincy Conservation Commission order blocking the bridge replacement. On March 31, DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg approved the hearing officer's recommendation, which Quincy now asks a judge to overturn.
Neighborhoods:
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| Attachment | Size |
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 Quincy's complete complaint | 501.73 KB |
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Comments
Is there a way
to force their hand? Appeals to Baker? Sick of this farce.
This is for a REGIONAL
This is for a REGIONAL treatment center and it's bs that Quincy doesn't seem to care--AT ALL--what's happening at Methadone Mile, now that Long Island is closed.
So, to answer your question about how to force Quincy's hand...why doesn't Boston start doing indefinite roadwork on Neponset Ave in Dorchester? Basically all city-bound traffic from Quincy has to bottleneck in through Neponset Ave (in Boston) before getting on I-93. Start severely reducing lanes and/or close the road from 6-10am. Something tells me their opposition to Long Island will disappear quickly.
Boston didn't start this fight but restricting Neponset Ave traffic should quickly resolve it!
What you just described is
What you just described is basically Bridgegate. I can think of many instances of revenge politics ending well.
True it is like Bridgegate.
True it is like Bridgegate. The difference here is that I suggest the city not hide what they're doing. Call a press release and say until Quincy stops holding the Long Island facility hostage, forcing thousands of people to be homeless in Boston around Medadone Mile, Boston will be restricting traffic on Neponset Ave. This road is in the city of Boston, giving us total control to manage traffic flow. As soon as the Long Island bridge is reopened, we will increase capacity to prior levels.
I suppose the City * could
I suppose the City * could * do something on Neponset. Pitch a hissy fit, anyway.
That won't do much to block Quincy access to I-93, though. Neponset is on the far side of the Expressway from Quincy.
Everything that traffic passes through or over to get from Quincy to the Expressway - the bridge and Gallivan/Morrissey - are DCR or state jurisdiction, right?
Quincy did not close the Long
Quincy did not close the Long Island Bridge.
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The Bridge was closed by former Mayor Marty Walsh in an attempt to help some favored real estate developers. Place the blame where it should be.
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Long Island was supposed to be part of Boston's Olympic development.
incorrect
The city closed the bridge because the state informed them it was not safe for use.
I think you are probably right
Word was, the bridge was in pretty bad shape and that the immediate closure was legit. On the other hand, it wouldn’t have been the first time Walsh used the “urgently unsafe condition” card to do an end run around due process.
“Hey Jimmy, you owe me a favor. I really need to close this bridge. Maybe your inspectors could check it out and see if it’s unsafe or something?” is kind of the Massachusetts way of getting things done.
For years prior to closing
For years prior to closing the bridge, only one vehicle was allowed on the bridge at a time. It was rickety.
And why did Mayor Walsh inherit such a bridge?
Perhaps because every time his predecessor tried to get something done to prolong the life of the bridge, a certain city (you are probably familiar with it as you live there) and its elected officials blocked the efforts. Therefore, eventually the state came along and declared the bridge unsafe even for the minimal traffic allowed on it.
I want to like Quincy, but between the obstruction on maintenance of the bridge, this lawsuit, and your trolling, I'm beginning to conclude that Quincy is full of assholes.
It’s true , Quincy largely
It’s true , Quincy largely sucks
Why the spammy formatting?
Why the spammy formatting?
Unfortunately Morrissey and
Unfortunately Morrissey and Gallivan are both state roads. But I like the idea.
Plenty or ways to avoid
Plenty or ways to avoid neponset ave so your evil genius plan is already a failure
Define plenty. You have to
Define plenty. You have to cross a bridge to get from Quincy to Dorchester. There are 3 of them. 5 if you include Milton.
Bleep Quincy
Quincy at one point (as did Cape Wind opponents) brought in Native Americans to say that a bridge should not be built because any construction might disturb Native American graves that may or may not be on Long Island and Moon Island. That must be the greatest consulting gig ever. ("We Think Our Ancestors May Have Been Here But Have No Proof, Therefore You Mustn't Do Anything LLC)
Quincy of course didn't bring in these Native Americans to ask them about the complete ripping up of Quincy Center in the past few years or on any of the new schools which have been built, but hey, any which way you can to prove that Youngstown By The Sea has their big boy pants on when it comes to dealing with big mean Boston, right?
We shall await Koch's little lapdog to argue for ferry service any minute now. Woof woof lappy.
Which real estate development
Which real estate development interests are you working with on this John?
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You seem to duck the question a lot.
None
All I know is there are treatment facilities located on Long Island that can go a long way to helping a lot of people.
I do not support any development on Long Island except for Status Quo Ante.
Does that answer your question lappy? Quick now run into Bill's office and he can give you a milkbone. Good boy. Perhaps you'll get taken to the groomer this weekend.
"I do not support any
"I do not support any development on Long Island except for Status Quo Ante." - John Costello
All you need to do John is to get the CoB to agree to this in writing and the bridge will be built about 6 years ago.
Even doing this will only get
Even doing this will only get the bridge built in 3-5 years..
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What is your plan in the interim?
My Plan?
The great French Marshal Lyautey once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. The marshal replied: In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.
Perhaps if your obfuscating self coupled with that corrupt burg south of the Neponset weren't so busy covering up a murder committed by relatives of your local cops, that this bridge could have already been replaced.
Sod off lappy.
So you are saying you don't
So you are saying you don't really care about the addicts and alcoholics down at methadone mile.
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Thanks for confirming that.
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Who are you working for
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and why couldn't they afford someone capable of normal paragraph
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structure?
I guess you don't know many Quincy residents.
Their concentration kind of comes and goes. I'm afraid this is as good as it gets.
Cause.it.works.
Cause.it.works.
Hey Lappy
Which pimp, sorry, I meant lobbying firm do you work for?
None.
None.
I am actually enjoying retirement.
And you?
God For You
You will enjoy hundreds of junkies on a bus to Long Island slowly rolling through Squantum in your golden years when the City received approvals for a new bridge.
The busses won't bother me at
The busses won't bother me at all. But I will enjoy all of that new parkland, all open to the public and reachable via ferry.
Perhaps In Your Golden Years....
You could learn how to spell buses correctly.
It's ok, we all know little lap dogs are just there to snip and make their master fell better about themselves. It is ok yip yip.
John,
John,
Your a very bright guy. Maybe when you grow up a bit you will realize how immature you look calling other people names.
Time to get out of your junior high playground and act like an adult.
Oh, bye the way,. . . . . . .
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/plural-of-bus
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Also,
"God For You" -JC
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"master fell better" -JC
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Huh? Time to lay off the sauce.
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I'm moving on from your nonsense.
I am retired but my time is valuable, unlike some people.
Murder, cover up, local cops, WHAAA?
I’m lost, please fill me in? Corrupt Burg?!? This sounds juicy!!
A highly entertaining post,
A highly entertaining post, John.
And you raised some good points. Once in a blue moon you do that.
Quincy sends us their huddled masses.
Then slams the door behind them.
$#@& Quincy.
And therefore...
Shouldn't they be petitioning to make the whole of Long Island as uninhabitable and simply turn it into a wildlife preserve until it eventually becomes a natural aquarium?
Boston could agree to limit
Boston could agree to limit development on Long Island to medical and recovery facilities with the remainder being turned over to the state or the National Park Service as parkland.
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For some reason Boston refuses to take this step which could result in lessening Quincy's opposition to building the bridge.
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Maybe because the bridge has nothing to do with addiction or recovery.
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It has a lot to do with luxury hotels and luxury condos that will benefit a few BPDA chosen developers. (See Fort Point Channel/Seaport District and much of the rest of the CoB)
Why does Boston continue to promote Long Island as an Enterprise Zone. Also, Long Island is zoned B-1 for general business.
I was dimly aware of this.
I was dimly aware of this. Glad you brought it up.
Really?
Cause it's pretty much a completely fictitious load of BS that the poster is attempting to spread because they obviously don't want the bridge restored under any circumstances. Long Island was not part of the Olympics plan. The bridge was structurally falling apartment with large holes going to into the ocean by the time Walsh totally shut it down. It only got that way because Quincy kept blocking repairs during Menino's tenure. Lastly, the City of Boston has not voiced any intentions other than restoring the treatment facility in the Island.
Wrong again, but thanks for
Wrong again, but thanks for playing.
"Long Island was not part of the Olympics plan." -bgl
https://www.universalhub.com/2015/if-city-restores-homeless-programs-lon...
"Lastly, the City of Boston
"Lastly, the City of Boston has not voiced any intentions other than restoring the treatment facility in the Island."
All Boston would need to do is commit to that in writing.
Won't happen because BPDA favored developers can't make money if Boston agreed to it.
By This Logic
Shouldn't all of Squantum be abandoned? I mean, if left unprotected Squantum St isn't long for this world. Actually, by this logic, half of Quincy needs to go pretty much yesterday.
Beat me to it
If they’re going to play the climate card, it should be thrown back at them like Nicky Santoro.
relict piers
Altho the piers are called concrete they appear be made of cut stone, or at least the visible portions:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ophis/48461915591/
WWJQAD
What Would John Quincy Adams Do
He would advise people to swim to the island
Preferably nude.
Fascinating!
Thanks for the link.
an economic solution
put tolls on 93 at the boston / quincy line.
put tolls on the neponset river bridge. and again on dorchester ave. and the blue hills parkway.
pretty much make it impossible to get from Quincy to Boston with a car without paying a toll. use that money to build new shelters and treatment facilities in boston, far away from the living hell that is methadone mile.
honestly, there should have always been tolls on those roads as it stands. its always been political hackery that only the north and west pays tolls to get to boston.
I'll take disingenuous
I'll take disingenuous arguments for 1000 please, Alex.
This kind of NIMBYism never
This kind of NIMBYism never happens in Boston.
Shipping off to Quincy
The residents off the methadone mile should be given a cash incentive and a free ticket to travel south on the red line to Quincy center where they could set up a tent city on the plaza in Quincy square.
Apparently you have never
Apparently you have never been to Quincy.
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If you had been to Quincy you could note that there is a regularly a large contingent of homeless in just that area you mention. Also along Hancock St, McGrath Hwy, Washington St and Southern Artery down by Father Bill's.
Many are involved with the numerous drug and alcohol treatment programs in the area.
I got panhandled outside the
I got panhandled outside the 7-11 on Hancock in NQ at 10 am on a Wednesday a few weeks back- which sort of surprised me- guy seemed to initially want to blend in w/ the construction workers who'd filled the lot there
Ok, one more time
Any USCG licensed captain cannot allow passengers under the influence of drugs onboard their vessel. So cut the shit about ferries.
Booze Cruise
There are more drunk and druggie passengers on a booze cruise than on a ferry of homeless souls to Long Island.
Alcohol is served on ferries all the time
presumably with USCG approval. How is this any different?
Alcohol Is Licensed And Comes From A Controlled Source
Smack isn't.
Please don't equate two Notches drank on a boat with white pony.
Americans with Disabilities Act
https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/pa...
Time to stop making stuff up.
Your postings are starting to reek of desperation.
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Look up maritime law, not ADA
Look up maritime law, not ADA.
Post a link if you have one.
Post a link if you have one. Otherwise its just more bs.
You can do your own homework.
You can do your own homework.
"You can do your own homework
"You can do your own homework."
Funny, I did research this and found nothing to preclude the use of a ferry to transport medical patients in maritime law or elsewhere, to Long Island on a ferry. See my post referencing the Americans with Disability Act.
Perhaps since you made this assertion you could take the opportunity to present evidence if it exists.
There is zero tolerance for
There is zero tolerance for illegal drugs onboard vessels. It’s a nice day, go to Rowes wharf and hop on a cruise, there are signs posted you can read yourself.
If they could ferry dug adficts
It would’ve happened by now. People are pigheaded.
"ferry dug adficts"
"ferry dug adficts"
Not bad for 9:02 on a Sunday morn.
Now don't drive, operate heavy machinery, or post anything else incriminating on the internet.
Are you joking? Have you ever
Are you joking? Have you ever seen a person under the influence of opioids?
Drugs
not alcohol. Last I checked there are no crack cruises in Boston Harbor but there are booze cruises.
Long Island
I think the real fear isn't so much the detox and it's related problems. Instead it's the real possibility that Long Island will be developed into some kind of resort.
It has fantastic views of everything from the Boston skyline to the harbor and surrounding towns.
There is no way this will be a treatment center for people with substance abuse problems for a very long time. I think what would happen is it will be up and running for a few years, then some deep pocketed group will approach the city and offer to build a facility to treat the unfortunates in another locale.
Count on it.
My thoughts too
I think a proposed goal for Long Island was to become a Boston version of the Hamptons or Martha's Vineyard/Nantucket, where developers can tear down the old treatment center and put up upscale/chic/posh apartments, restaurants, retail shops, and other amenities so the elite have an exclusive getaway destination without having to plod down MA 3 in their luxury cars to the Cape.
If Boston agreed to share the tax revenue from the newly gentrified Long Island, only then would Quincy allow a bridge to be built, since the "right" people are going over it. I could see both cities impose steep tolls similar to the Confederation Bridge linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (C$48.50 one way, coming back from PEI).
This is what Quincy is fighting to avoid
"I think the whole goal for Long Island is to become a Boston version of the Hamptons or Martha's Vineyard/Nantucket"
"Only then would Quincy allow a bridge to be built"
This is what Quincy is fighting to avoid.
This Was Not What Quincy Was Fighting to Avoid
*Ron Howard voice*
Interesting
Throughout the nineties and aughts, I never heard anything like that from Quincy officials as the obstructed Menino’s plans.
Yeah, why go to the beautiful
Yeah, why go to the beautiful beaches down the Cape when you can enjoy the rocks and mud, while looking at the sewage treatment plan. A move to ban development on Long Island needs to happen, it should be rezoned. There should be the treatment facilities and BHI park land.
Ferries: Cheap and easily implimented
All the people who say, "It can't be done" cite possible and what if scenarios about why it won't work. I can tell you right now that this bridge isn't happening in the next 5 years. Let's just set up the ferries and in a decade when the bridge is done, we can discontinue the boats.
Why not both?
Even if a bridge is rebuilt from Quincy, a ferry will still be the best way to get to Long Island from downtown Boston. It would be a pleasant addition to the existing Hull, Hingham, Georges Island, and Spectacle Island boats.
You're all a bunch of NIMBYs
The degree to which this is a conflict between people in Boston who don't want to have to look at homeless people on the Methadone Mile and people in Quincy who don't want to deal with traffic in Squantum is extremely stupid. Everyone is being selfish. There is a complex on Long Island that has been used to provide services for the homeless and could be used again to provide services for the homeless if they built a new bridge, so that would be good. If you also built a bunch of homeless shelters on Northampton Street that would also be good. If you also want to build a bunch of market-rate housing on Long Island that would also be good: increase the overall housing market. Even if it's expensive housing, if rich people move into there they aren't moving into preexisting property. The focus shouldn't be on what personally inconveniences you.