On July 1 without any fanfare, dignitaries, ribbon cutting or people, one-half of the Mattapoisett Bike Path’s Phase 1b was opened for public use. From Mattapoisett Neck Road to Reservation Road, this ready-for-use portion received walkers and bikers alike who marveled at the vistas of wetlands and wildlife now easily seen from an elevated bridge over marshlands.
A Facebook posting from Representative William Straus announced the opening this way: “Many of you may already have noticed but a couple of days ago, the newest stretch of the Mattapoisett Bike Path opened up to the public. Done quietly by the state on Friday afternoon, the path now extends further east from (Mattapoisett) Neck Road to Reservation Road while crossing the Mattapoisett River and some incredible marsh and coastal areas.
“There is more to come, but this newest stretch has been worth the wait and reflects years and years of work, town meetings and negotiations. Many thanks to so many in town and the generous contribution of the YMCA in making a portion of its land available for the public to enjoy this newest stretch. I am glad I could be a part of helping this further progress as we continue with construction and another phase of planning to get the path as far as Marion. Enjoy.”
Over the 4th of July weekend, people who somehow became aware that this portion of Phase 1b had opened were the first to see the massive, winding bridge and the views offered over marshlands. But there is more work to come.
One major issue to be resolved and is in the works according to Town Administrator Mike Lorenco includes signs announcing to the public that Reservation Road is not the suggested exit or entrance point to this pathway.
“A soft opening did take place, but we still have things to work out with the ‘Y’-camp and the golf club,” he said on Tuesday. “We really don’t want cyclists and pedestrians using Reservation Road, but it is a public road so we can’t really stop people.”
Lorenco said the hope is that once the second portion of Phase 1b is opened (the section elevated over the Eel Pond breach and Goodspeed Island beach) users of the recreational path will enter and exit via Railroad Avenue and Depot Street or to the west at Mattapoisett Neck Road, Brandt Island Road or accesses in Fairhaven.
Reservation Golf Club president Robert O’Brien told the Wanderer, “We were expecting a walk-through before it opened, but that didn’t happen.” He said the town had agreed to posting of signs on the pathway that instructed users to turn around where it intersects with Reservation Road versus exiting onto Reservation Road. O’Brien said that if that did not happen, “We’ll lock the gates.” Locking the gates would force bike-path users to return to Mattapoisett Neck Road versus exiting onto Reservation Road.
Select Board member Jordan Collyer confirmed that Reservation Road was never the intended entrance and exit point for users of the bike path. He said, while the town is excited to have part of Phase 1b opened, there are still things to be done like signage, trash barrels and doggy rest stations.
“People need to be considerate of one another, “Collyer stated regarding use of the bike path, and stressed cyclists needed to abide by traffic rules and regulations.
The Mattapoisett Bike Path has been a work in progress since 1996. Bike Path Chairman Steve Kelleher has noted over the years that he and more recently the Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path have labored to work through and control a long list of moving parts including financing the project. Now with at least a half-mile of elevated walkway complete, the finish line is getting closer.
Still ahead for supporters of the project and the town are issues related to defective material that became evident more than a year ago on the bridge over the Eel Pond breach and Goodspeed Island Beach. That section remains closed. No date on when it might be ready for the public is known at this time, as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation finds acceptable replacement materials.
And while a small section of the bike path at the end of Industrial Drive to the Marion line was funded by donations and is open, Phases 2a and b are in early planning stages.
During the FY23 budget cycle, the Bike Path Committee, along with FMBP Chairman Renee Pothier, reported to the Capital Planning Committee that for FY23 $489,000, the town’s match previously approved through Town Meeting for work associated with the Industrial Drive improvements, would be used.
Another $500,000 would be needed for a portion of the Phase 2b Industrial Drive bike lane, and $150,000 of which $120,000 (received via a state grant after Town Meeting) will require a town match of $30,000.
Long-range planning offered by the Bike Path Committee and FMBP also noted that in FY24, $285,000 will be needed and is proposed to be secured from grants and town matches for Phase 2a design, project management and soft costs not associated with construction and $1,000,000 proposed to be secured by town matches and grants.
FY25 was forecasted to need $30,000 from grants and town matches for additional Phase 2a design, project management and soft costs not associated with construction and $1,000,000 from grants and town matches for Phase 2a construction.
It is currently planned that in FY26 the project will be rolling towards completion while needing $30,000 from grants and town matches for remaining project management and soft costs not associated with construction, $1,000,000 for Phase 2a construction, $752,000 Phase 2b design and construction and $500,000 for final segments of Phase 2a.
All totaled over the next four fiscal cycles, the financial documents provided by the bike path consortium estimate that Phases 2a and 2b will cost $5,796,000, anticipated to be funded by a variety of grants and town matches. In the meantime, cyclists and other recreators may now enjoy nonmotorized modes of transportation from Mattapoisett to New Bedford without using Route 6 or just taking in the wetland splendor Mattapoisett now showcases from an elevated walkway.
By Marilou Newell