Site Access

Existing Access to the Landlocked Parcel:

  • Lexington and Bedford both acquired through eminent domain property abutting the landlocked parcel to prevent access to the landlocked parcel from Lexington and Bedford.
  • Burlington sued Bedford for damages for depriving Burlington of all potential access to public ways. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled against Burlington and concluded Burlington had no access.
  • The Lexington and Bedford parcels were taken for conservation purposes, which prohibits the construction of roadways over these parcels to access the landlocked parcel for recreational fields.
  • The landlocked parcel does not have vehicular access to any public ways, and there is no handicap accessibility.

Potential Access & Highway Infrastructure

  • Patriot Partners envisions access to the property and community-accessible open space via a bridge that would span over Route 3 in the northern portion of the site.
  • This northern bridge would be the initial access point and ultimately connect to Middlesex Turnpike.
  • Future access is also being considered in the southern portion of the site opposite Second Avenue.

Northern Access

  • The proposed bridge over Route 3 in the northern section of the site will likely be a two-span continuous bridge approximately 250 feet in length with a center pier support in the median of Route 3.
  • Such access would include sidewalks for pedestrians and adequate shoulders for bicycle accommodations.
  • Patriot Partners will work closely with the Burlington Bicycle Committee and plan for a connection to the Phase 2 bike path.
  • Based on the information currently available, the estimated construction costs for the northern access point would be in the range of $10 - $15 million (current construction dollars).

Southern Access

  • As these improvements are being developed, close coordination with the adjacent landowners and the Town of Burlington will be required.
  • Depending on the topography, alignment, and location of the roadway that crosses Route 3, this crossing could be a bridge over Route 3 or a tunnel under Route 3.
  • While the specifics of the grade separation and connections to Route 3 still need to be worked out, we estimate the order of magnitude of construction costs for the southern grade separation and ramps to be in the range $15 - $40 million in current construction dollars.
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