New Mattapoisett bike boardwalk is already warped. Here's what's being done to fix it.

Frank Mulligan, Standard-Times
·1 min read

MATTAPOISETT — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is working to see that the elevated boardwalk section of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail bike path between Reservation Road and the end of Goodspeed Island Road removed due to warping is being replaced as soon as possible.

The approximately quarter-mile stretch had to be removed during construction recently because the decking material was warping.

Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael Lorenco said MassDOT is "hoping to get it done as soon as possible. The contractor is being incentivized to complete it as quickly as possible. The hope is that it will be done in the spring, summer time frame next year. That's their goal."

He added, "It will be dependent on the weather. They are trying to get this thing turned around ASAP."

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Billy Phillips of D. W. White carries a section of the guardrail being installed at the elevated bike path crossing Mattapoisett River and Eel Pond in Mattapoisett, whose planks had to be removed after warping.
Billy Phillips of D. W. White carries a section of the guardrail being installed at the elevated bike path crossing Mattapoisett River and Eel Pond in Mattapoisett, whose planks had to be removed after warping.

Ironically, he said, the material's failings seem due at least in part to it being selected to be more coastal-resilient than materials that did not warp in a separate section.

He added, however, that they weren't sure why this material was warping.

Mark Correia and Billy Phillips of D. W. White install the guardrails for the elevated bike path crossing Mattapoisett River and Eel Pond in Mattapoisett whose planks had to be removed after warping.
Mark Correia and Billy Phillips of D. W. White install the guardrails for the elevated bike path crossing Mattapoisett River and Eel Pond in Mattapoisett whose planks had to be removed after warping.

"They had a consultant over there and there was no definite answer on why the planks warped. It could be a problem with the material. They haven't determined it. They just realized the paneling wasn't going to work. That it needed to be replaced."

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The replacement materials have been tested and OK'd prior to installation.

Lorenco said there was no cost to the town for the replacement, though it is a cost to taxpayers since the state is footing the additional bill.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Warping elevated Mattapoisett bike boardwalk being replaced by MassDOT