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Council reviews Bridal Park feasibility study; consultants cite multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar options
Summary
A consultant presentation showed conceptual designs to connect downtown to the Merrimack River across I‑93 and the railroad. Council accepted the report and directed staff to add the project to the CIP for 2035 with an asterisk noting outside funding is needed.
The Concord City Council on May 12 accepted a final feasibility report examining a proposed “Bridal Park” linkage from Store Street and downtown across the CSX rail corridor, I‑93 and the Merrimack River.
The study, led by engineering firm VHB with architectural input from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, explored bridge‑only crossings, a bridged deck with a park, and a technically complex option to depress the highway and build a park over it. The council voted to add Bridal Park to the city’s capital improvement plan for fiscal 2035 with an asterisk that outside funding would be required.
Why it matters: the project would physically connect downtown Concord to the Merrimack River and create a public gathering space on a corridor currently dominated by highway, railroad and utilities. Planners and consultants said the work would also require extensive permitting, coordination with state I‑93 plans and likely federal and state funding to proceed.
Consultants described three main alternatives: two alignments for a multiuse bridge spanning the rail, highway and river (a “southern” and a “northern” crossing), a version that adds a deck/park adjacent to the city side of the river, and a concept that would depress I‑93 and place a park over the highway. VHB project manager Greg Backus said the southern crossing concept as presented would cost “about $76,000,000” without a park; adding a deck and park would substantially increase that figure (the presentation stated it “gets up over probably gonna be around $1.20,” language quoted as presented by the consultant).
The consultants said the bridge options require substantial vertical clearance (roughly 20 feet over the railroad and 17.5 feet over the highway) and a lengthy approach grade to meet accessibility standards, and would likely include river piers and shoreline work that trigger shoreland, floodplain and other permitting. Backus also noted environmental constraints such as conservation easements and possible contamination in certain parcels along the alignment.
Councilors and staff emphasized the long‑range nature of the project. The city’s planning director reminded the council the study was an early‑stage, conceptual exercise intended to inform future funding and permitting work; Beth (city staff) described earlier Merrimack River Greenway planning and noted that the city’s small share of property in the corridor limits direct city control. Backus said property owners contacted during the study generally saw potential benefits from increased activity.
The council voted by voice to accept the study and direct staff to include Bridal Park in the CIP in FY2035, with the caveat that outside funding would be needed. Mayor Champlin opened the motion and councilors voted in favor.
What’s next: staff will keep Bridal Park on the CIP and monitor potential funding opportunities and state I‑93 design decisions. The consultants cautioned that permitting and engineering would be “rigorous” and that the depressed‑highway option raised significant technical and drainage concerns that made that alternative doubtful without far larger budgets.
Supporting material: the VHB presentation and renderings were provided to the council; the report lists the study area from Exit 13 to Exit 14 on I‑93 and identifies property ownership, utilities and environmental constraints.
