CONCORD, Mass. – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with reconstructing the existing Methuen Rotary interchange in Methuen, Mass.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is proposing to place fill material below the ordinary high water line of waters of the U.S. including wetlands near the Merrimack River in order to reconstruct the existing Methuen Rotary interchange, located at Exit 46 of Interstate 93 (I-93). State Routes 110 and 113 intersect with I-93 at the rotary.

The proposed project includes the removal of the existing rotary and construction of a new partial clover-leaf interchange with a new interstate bridge, six new interchange ramps, multi-lane signalized intersections within and on the local approaches to the interchange, widening I-93 from three lanes in each direction to four lanes in each direction, improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, landscaping, lighting, stormwater treatment, and noise barriers.

The project purpose is to provide for the safe and efficient flow of local and regional traffic at the I-93/Route 110/Route 113 Methuen Rotary Interchange by correcting safety deficiencies and reducing congestion for the current and projected traffic volumes. Total wetland impacts from permanent, secondary and temporary impacts will be approximately 102,925 square feet.

The application for the federal permit was filed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in United States waters, including wetlands.

The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work, can be viewed on the Corps website at  http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/Public%20Notices/.

Public comments on this work proposed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (file # NAE-2008-3209) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 21, 2012 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Kevin Kotelly), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Kevin Kotelly at 978-318-8703 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: kevin.r.kotelly@usace.army.mil.