Last week, Supervising Project Engineer Josh Trearchis joined city officials, consultants, and developers on ULI‘s Walking Tour of Lowell to highlight the City’s recently completed and underway development projects. Josh spotlighted VHB's transformative Lord Overpass Transportation Improvement project, sharing how the work unlocked new development possibilities through improved walkability and connectivity.
Limited accommodations for pedestrians and a complex, one-way traffic circulation pattern made the Lord Overpass infamous for high speeds, frequent crashes, and difficult merging zones. The Lord Overpass Improvement project aimed to improve these issues by reimagining the overpass as an at-grade “complete street” to reconnect the city. VHB worked with the City of Lowell and the public to develop and execute a design that balances vehicular traffic with other transportation modes, promoting more sustainable alternatives.
"The newly designed Lord Overpass has revitalized the City's connectivity, economic vitality, and innovation,” said Josh. “This new urban corridor is poised to benefit both residents and visitors of Lowell for years to come.”
The Lord Overpass Improvement initiative is one of several projects that helped earn Lowell’s recent designation as the first “Frontrunner City” in the United States under the Global Frontrunner Cities Initiative. This honor recognizes the City as a pioneer in sustainable and innovative urban transformation.
Read how VHB develops transportation solutions to improve mobility and connection, creating sustainable, technologically advanced transportation solutions to get you where you need to be.
