Will I be able to jump from the reconstructed Boardwalk?

Yes, the Town will sustain the current use of the Boardwalk. Ladders and platform similar to existing will be part of the new Boardwalk.

How high will the peak of the bridge be? 

As currently proposed, the Mill Creek footbridge will be raised up by 2-3 feet.  That will make the top of the deck about the same height, (actually slightly lower than) the top of the railing that is there today. 

Will there be an area provided for folks to jump?

Yes, just like exists today, there will be longer planks that will extend out beyond the railing over Mill Creek by a couple of feet on both sides.  There will be ladders on one side just like exist today but a bit taller because the new footbridge will be 2-3 feet higher as mentioned above.

They might say there is jumping but how will that be implemented without being dangerous?

 With the current bridge, some people jump from the top of the existing railing.  The new bridge deck will be just about the same height as the existing railing, just slightly lower. Jumps are frequently made from the top of the existing railing as can be seen in the photo below.  For liability reasons, the Town cannot promote jumping not can it guarantee safety.  But, I know that everyone involved in the rebuilding effort understands that jumping is very important to many members of the community and collectively we want to make sure that this can continue with the new design. 

Where will it be?

The new Boardwalk will be placed in the exact same location as the current Boardwalk, just slightly wider. You can view the site plan here.

How tall will it be and why?

The deck height will be 4’ to 5’ taller than it is now. The increased height is necessary to permit the structure in tidal area over the salt marsh, to meet storm surge standards & to accommodate a 6’ wide walkway. (An increase of 1’ in width) 

The Boardwalk was designed with bridge profile similar to the arch similar to the arch at Mill Creek today. This arched profile, and the buttress features of the bridge were added as a result of community feedback. Find more information about the Boardwalk Project here.

What about the Planks?

The Town will work with the general contractor awarded the project to return existing planks and to make new planks available at cost.

Why so many rails?

Guardrails are required by code. The existing guardrail is 36” tall; the new rail will be 6” higher as required by code. The building code also requires a rail system that prevents a sphere of 4”  from passing through, The design shows the minimum width between rails that is allowed by code.   

There are several rail design options. Board of Selectmen recommended timber rails because wood has been used on the Boardwalk since its origination in 1875,  is more cost effective to maintain, and is same design and currently used at the lookout at Town Neck beach. You can find a graphic visualization here.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Sandwich Historic Commission and the Sandwich Historic Committee have found that the since the Boardwalk has been fully repaired, replaced, and changed from its was original construction in 1875 it is not an example of a historically significant structure. You can read the Massachusetts Historical Commission letter here. The Boardwalk is iconic and has significant value as a transit route from the village to Town Neck Beach which should be maintained. Find more information about the important cultural history of the Boardwalk here. 

Environmental, regulations, Massachusetts Architectural Access Board and ADA regulations establish standards to which the reconstructed Boardwalk must be built.  These are fairly rigid with little flexibility. There are no responsible alternatives to meeting these regulations. If the Boardwalk is destroyed by decay or storm surge, we would still have to meet these regulations to repair damage.  Learn more about Sandwich’s approach to designing for climate vulnerability.

What's Next?

Preliminary plans have been developed and are available on the Resources Tab found near the top of this page.  These will be presented to the Selectmen 12/21/2021.  Regulatory permit applications will be submitted to state and federal agencies following the Selectmen’s meeting.  Additional information may be found in the materials on the Resources Tab. Please watch for more information on www.sandwichmass.org.