Parkers River Bridge Project Receives $663K in Grant Funding

COURTESY OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

YARMOUTH – A project in Yarmouth has received $663,044 in federal coastal ecosystem resiliency grant funding.

The goal is to eliminate a severe tidal restriction on the Parkers River by replacing the bridge over Route 28 with a more modern, wider span.

The project will reduce infrastructure damage by allowing storm surge to flow more rapidly out of the estuary.

The new span will also improving the overall health of the estuary by reducing nitrogen loads, along with improving fish passage and salt marsh growth.

“Yarmouth is very appreciative of NOAA’s support on this important project that provides many benefits to our community,” said Bob Lawton, the interim town administrator in Yarmouth. “Eliminating this tidal restriction is vitally important to improving the overall health and resiliency of the Parkers River Estuary.”

The project is one of three in the state to receive $1,068,481 in federal grant funding. The other two projects are in East Bridgewater and Scituate.

All three were previously designated priority projects by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Diviosn of Ecological Restoration.