Projects

Point Shore Neighborhood Transportation 
Improvements Updates

2024, April

The 2022 Shared Streets & Spaces Grant was reprogrammed with the State in early 2023. The originally proposed bike lane did not accomplish shared goals for the area. After extensive community input and discussion about vehicular travel lanes, bike lanes, on-street parking, and safe sidewalks it was determined that sidewalks are the top priority.

The project includes the construction of approximately 750 feet of sidewalk along the north side of Evan’s Place starting at Point Shore Drive, continuing to the north / west to Crum Hill. The work along Evan’s place consists of installing granite curb, HMA (Hot Mix Asphalt) sidewalk and driveway construction, ADA/AAB compliant pedestrian curb ramps and all incidental work.

• Bid documents were prepared and made available in COMMBUYS on 02/22/24 and the local newspaper on 2/16/24. The documents were made available on the city website on 02/22/24. 
• Bids were accepted until 10AM on 03/14/24 at which time they were read aloud at a public opening at 39 South Hunt Road.
• TASCO Construction, Inc. was chosen as the successful bidder and contract documents are currently being drafted. 
• Design Plans
• Change to Scope

2023, July
After taking into consideration the recommendations of studies done, feedback from the neighborhood, surveys from residents of Amesbury, and those who showed up to City Hall to voice their concerns, it has been decided that Main Street will remain a two-way street.

Most concerns revolve around sidewalk/pedestrian safety and speed mitigation. The Mayor’s Office, DPW, Inspectional Services, Amesbury Police Department, Amesbury Fire and Rescue, and the Office of Community and Economic Development have all worked together to develop a plan going forward, to utilize the grant money we currently have available, and execute the following:

• Curbed sidewalks along a portion of Main St. to offer a safer walking environment
• Cleary marked and raised crosswalks
• Raised intersections
• Flashing pedestrian activated crosswalk signs

In addition, the City will do what it can to work with navigation systems (Waze, Google Maps, etc.) on routing away from Main Street, to Rt 110. Increased police presence will also be implemented to control speeding.

With these measures in place, and with the recent announcement from Global Property Developers with the scaling down of the Maples Crossing sports complex to allow room for the new Munters manufacturing facility, we expect to see improvements in pedestrian safety, speed mediation, and traffic reduction. 

DPW hired engineering firm, TEC for the design phase. Following approval, the work would then go out to bid.  The grant funds will not cover improvements the full length of Main Street and must fall within the scope of the grant proposal. As additional funds become available and sub-surface work can be completed curbing, sidewalks, and other enhancements can be made along the remainder of the roadway. Additionally, future development in the area will be leveraged for offsite improvement for safer streets in the neighborhood.

We thank everyone who has participated in the process, especially those of the Point Shore community, and we look forward to seeing these improvements to Main Street, and Amesbury.