Canadian firm to study solutions to I-290 divide in Worcester
Image | Courtesy of Google Maps
The Vernon Street Bridge spanning Interstate 290 in Worcester
STANTEC, a Canada-based engineering and architecture firm, has been selected to lead a study to explore redesign options of the Vernon Street Bridge over Interstate 290 in Worcester, seeking to better connect neighborhoods on both sides of the highway.
With a planned start in June and completion expected by the end of September 2026, the study seeks to find ways to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the construction of the highway in the mid-20th century. The project is being supported with a $125,000 award from the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Board, which announced the selection of STANTEC in a press release issued Wednesday.
The project has received an additional $625,000 commitment in state and federal funds and seeks to consider community input to mitigate the divide caused by the interstate. One option being considered for the project is a lid for the freeway, which could allow for the creation of green space or potential areas for further development, according to a November press release announcing the $125,000 grant from CMRPB.
“The Vernon Street project addresses major transportation barriers that continue to divide the city and impact access to jobs, services, shopping and more,” Stephen Rolle, transportation & mobility commissioner for the City of Worcester, said in the November press release. “We look forward to partnering with CMRPC, MassDOT, and residents to reestablish connections between the Vernon, Grafton, and Union Hill neighborhoods and downtown Worcester.”
Goals of the project include improving mobility and access, supporting community goals including affordable housing and expanded park space, and reducing conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians through multimodal safety improvements.
The study area includes a number of prominent Worcester locations, including Kelley Square, the CSX Intermodal Port, and the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Visitor Center.
Founded in 1954, as D. R. Stanley Associates in Alberta, Canada, STANTEC has worked on projects including the Panama Canal Expansion project, a project finished in 2016, as well as work on the Canadian infrastructure of the Keystone Pipeline, an oil pipeline network stretching from Alberta to Texas, which saw widespread protests over potential environmental impacts.
CMRPC was founded in 1963 by the state legislature and is one of 13 regional planning agencies in Massachusetts tasked with bringing a regional perspective to planning and development.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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