The City of Boston has received Superseding Orders of Conditions (SOC) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to rebuild the bridge to Long Island. In the ruling, MassDEP determined that Boston’s proposal meets the performance standards under the Wetlands Protection Act and minimizes impacts to coastal wetland resources in both Boston and Quincy.
The City now has two of the three major permits needed, though Quincy does still have an avenue to appeal the permits.
“Our efforts to create a regional recovery campus on Long Island have always been guided by our fundamental belief that every person deserves a chance at recovery,” said Mayor Walsh. “The opioid crisis we’re living goes beyond city lines, and we welcome everyone’s support as we take action to help those suffering find their path to a better life. The Long Island Bridge carried the weight of those in need for more than 60 years and it’s our hope that the island will once again serve as the sanctuary it’s meant to be.”
The SOC comes after Boston appealed the Quincy Conservation Commission’s Order of Conditions denying Boston’s application to rebuild the bridge and Quincy’s appeal of the Boston Conservation Commission’s granting of the permit.
In 2014, Mayor Walsh made the decision to close Long Island Bridge to ensure public safety, demolishing the bridge superstructure. Mayor Walsh then pledged in his 2018 inaugural address to rebuild it and create a comprehensive, long-term recovery campus on Long Island.
City of Boston engineers and consultants have determined that rebuilding the bridge is necessary for day-to-day operations and emergency service to and from Long Island, presenting publicly on the plan over the last year, including at the Boston Conservation Commission, the Quincy Conservation Commission, and community meetings in both cities.
The City of Boston is planning an innovative and holistic recovery campus on Long Island that will expand essential recovery services for the region, fill gaps in the continuum of care and utilize the natural environment to provide a healing space. The City has contracted with Gensler and Ascension Recovery Services to identify the types of services, resources and treatment options that would be best suited for the island and create a master plan for the recovery campus.