Vital permit approved to rebuild bridge to Long Island

BOSTON — A vital permit has just been approved to rebuild the bridge to Long Island.

Boston 25 News learned on Wednesday morning that the third of four permits had been approved by the state.

The Chapter 91 license, which was expected to be one of the final hurdles in the process, ensures that the project meets public-access requirements.

The city of Boston is hoping to acquire the final permit in the coming months.

However, a new addiction-recovery campus on Long Island is still at least four or five years away from coming to fruition.

“Am I going to going to deal with this for five more years? No I’m not,” said Gerry DiPierro, owner of DiPierro Construction. “If I last another year, that’s a lot.”

Business owners, neighbors and community leaders told Boston 25 News they are in dire need of an immediate long-term solution, even if it’s temporary.

That’s something Sue Sullivan, with the Newmarket Business Improvement District, says is being worked on.

“We will be coming up with a solution real quickly here,” hinted Sullivan. “There are so many things happening right now that are putting people over the edge.”

The violence that’s been escalating all summer continues to be a pressing concern for people in the area.

The latest example of that unfolded on Tuesday night near the Roundhouse Hotel when a person was stabbed repeatedly.

Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the 41st stabbing to happen this year in the Mass and Cass area.

“I wasn’t surprised because that’s the environment we’re in,” said Bill Lim, who owns the Sunoco on Mass Ave. “I think the city has to enforce the law.”

Lim said aggressive panhandlers are threatening his business and harassing customers who are pumping gas.

“They chase away the customers,” he explained.

A list of lawmakers asked law enforcement officials last week to crack down on people with certain warrants in the area.

Multiple letters addressed to State Police Colonel John J. Mawn Jr. and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox have not yet been publicly addressed.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to hold a virtual press briefing Thursday morning to discuss the critical next steps in rebuilding the bridge to Long Island and jumpstarting the City’s efforts to reopen the recovery campus.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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