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Springfield I-91 Viaduct May Touch Ground, Pending Baker Review

Lowering the Springfield I-91 viaduct may increase economic development, but the plan's viability is uncertain.
Dave Roback
/
The Republican / masslive.com/photos
Lowering the Springfield I-91 viaduct may increase economic development, but the plan's viability is uncertain.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said his administration will review a state study that recommends keeping intact the Interstate 91 viaduct through Springfield. 

Nine area mayors had signed on to a plan that would lower the elevated portion of the highway to grade, or ground, level.

Local officials claimed it would increase economic development by reconnecting the city to the riverfront.

But in a visit to Springfield Tuesday, Baker said there's uncertainty as to whether lowering the highway is a viable option.

"I think the way to handle this is to have the facts fit the decision," Baker said. "And in some cases, the facts do support going to grade, and other cases they don't. And that's just not a question of money. In some cases, it's a question of public safety. Sometimes it's a question of capacity."

A two-year-long renovation of the more than four-decade-old viaduct was completed earlier this year.

Copyright 2018 New England Public Media

Kari is a senior reporter and long-time host and producer of Jazz Safari, a musical journey through the jazz world and beyond, broadcast Saturday nights on New England Public Radio. Born in New York City, and raised in both Kenya and the U.S., Kari first arrived at NEPR as UMass Amherst student fascinated radio's ability to cross geographic and cultural boundaries. Since then, he has worked in several capacities at the station, from board operator and book-keeper, to production assistant and local host of NPR’s All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.