THIS IS THE GAME. THE request for proposal on the new Rourke Bridge is open until December 19 at 2 p.m.

“This is a big step forward in moving this project forward,” Sen. Ed Kennedy said by phone Friday, referring to the bidding process.

It’s a project Kennedy has been working on since he was elected to his first Middlesex district seat in 2019. One of the first things he did was add $100 million for the bridge in the bill on transport obligations. A bond is not a loan, but gives the governor the authority to borrow money for a project.

“I initially asked for $70 million because that was the estimated cost of the bridge,” Kennedy said. “But as the legislation was being passed, I had to call Ways and Means and ask, ‘Can you increase this to $100 million?’ because the estimated cost of the bridge had increased by that much in just a few months.

The estimated cost of the bridge now stands at nearly $200 million, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unforeseen supply chain increases.

In 2022, the state received $9.5 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Of the $1.1 billion in bridge funding, a portion will be used for the Rourke Bridge replacement to fill the funding gap.

Already, 11 potential design-builders have submitted bids for the project, which will be reviewed by the state Department of Transportation.

The project includes the realignment of the Wood Street Extension, and the proposed bridge will be constructed west of its current location over the Merrimack River. The roadway will be widened to accommodate two lanes of traffic, a sidewalk and a cycle path in each direction. The design recognizes all road users, from cars to cyclists and pedestrians.

But wait! There’s much more, Kennedy says.

“It will come with lighting,” he said. “And should be completed in 2028.”

This timeline places the bridge at the tail end of other exciting, large-scale projects underway in Lowell.

THE Lowell High School Reconstruction and Renovation Project expected to be completed by 2026.

And next year the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor is expected to pave the way for Phases 1 and 2 of the three-phase project, with a two-year completion time, which will add to Lowell’s waterfront skyline by 2027.

The $800 million development plan leverages the prestige and innovation of UMass Lowell and the resources and history of the City of Lowell with the industry’s job creation capabilities to envision a model of vibrant urban village/main street and an economic engine for the city.

“LINC will probably have the biggest impact on the city since Wang arrived,” Kennedy said.

Wang Laboratories founder An Wang built the Cross Point Towers starting in the 1980s at a cost of $60 million (nearly $250 million in today’s dollars), and the buildings were once the crown jewel of his empire computer science. After the implosion of Wang Labs, ownership passed through several hands and tenants. Kronos, now known as UKG, moved its headquarters to the campus next to the Lowell Connector in 2018.

The new Rourke Bridge is scheduled to open in 2028.

“When it’s done, it will be spectacular,” Kennedy said.

He’s talking specifically about the bridge, but Kennedy could just as easily be talking about any of these transformative projects.

Mic drop: Nutter leaves WCAP

AFTER MORE than two years of getting up at 4 a.m., Gerry Nutter announced that Friday was his last day hosting the WCAP 980 AM morning show. Starting November 4, Nutter will work for Kevin Coughlin at the MassHire Career Center.

“I’m going to work with companies to see what type of internship or part-time job opportunities they have,” Nutter said via text message after his farewell party at Market Street Station. “Then (I will) work with the school system and youth groups to find young people to fill those positions.”

It’s a perfect transition for Nutter: Along with a 14-year career in broadcasting, he previously served on the Lowell School Committee from 2018-2019.

Instead of speaking to Lowellians six days a week, interviewing guests from the Greater Lowell area, discussing a range of municipal, educational and business issues, arts and entertainment and the latest political and community news, he will apply his communication and networking skills to connect student interns and companies.

Giving people chances is something Nutter is good at. It launched this reporter’s local radio career, who is grateful for a year of “Big Fun Friday” on-air talk fests, lots of laughter, bad karaoke, good music played by Cindy Annis in the booth of sound and sealed friendships. Awakening brewed coffee with dashes of Baileys Irish cream.

Local boxing historianand former Golden Gloves champion Keith Rudy, regularly came into the studio to talk boxing – and his other passion, horse racing – with Nutter and his listeners. He said Nutter’s breadth of interest in the city and its residents, as well as his knowledgeable questions of local leaders, have kept him as a loyal listener.

“Gerry is 100% Lowellian,” Rudy said via text message Friday. “He truly cares about his community and has used his platform to hold local politicians accountable for their actions. »

On-air chemistry was the reason retired state trooper Leslie Bodor, who was a longtime volunteer co-host with former morning show host Teddy Panos five days a week, is remained on the Friday show when Nutter took over. Listeners know her for her stories about law enforcement and her infectious laugh.

“Teddy Panos, Gerry and I have this chemistry,” she said via text message Saturday morning. “It’s hard to find.”

Others who are just as sad to see Nutter leave the local airwaves include “Real Estate Ray” Boutin, who took to the studio every Thursday to talk about the listings and give listeners real estate advice. The RE/MAX real estate agent also brought hearty breakfasts from Cote’s Market on Salem Street in the Acre neighborhood.

“I’m obviously sorry to see Gerry go and at the same time happy for him,” Boutin said via text Saturday morning. “Gerry did an incredible job after Teddy is gone. He brought new guests from Lowell and surrounding communities. I loved listening to him interview guests. We will miss him. »

Nutter went looking for where the former morning host Panos stoppedwhen he left the station after more than 15 years to launch into multimedia Inside Lowella website that combines digital news content with videos, podcasts, blogs, event promotions and social media posts.

Panos said Nutter has an “open invitation” to continue participating in the local conversation at InsideLowell Studios on Merrimack Street.

“Gerry has done an incredible job of keeping the morning show entertaining and relevant, and he has managed to do so often under difficult circumstances” Panos said via text message Saturday morning. “I will miss listening to him as I start my day and wish him well in his next chapter.”

For now, Nutter plans to sleep in during the week while he prepares for his new gig at MassHire.

“I’ve enjoyed my time doing The Morning Show over the last two years and I’m not going away completely,” he said. “I’m staying on Saturday Morning Live with Warren Shaw.”

Interview time for Billerica

FOR THE first time in a long time, Billerica will have a series of city manager interviews Monday night and choose a successor to former City Manager John Curran, who this month was chosen for top job at Tewksbury.

Curran, like his outgoing Tewksbury predecessor, Richard Montuori, held the position for 14 years, virtually an eternity when it comes to government. Now, the Billerica Select Board will choose between three candidates, all of whom have varying levels of experience at the highest levels of city government.

The first interview is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. and will feature former Salem, New Hampshire City Manager Christopher Dillon, who left his post last February after serving for nearly seven years, before served as recreation director for a decade. .

The next interview at 7 p.m. will be with Randy Robertson, a less familiar face from the area. According to Robertson’s LinkedIn page, he has the most extensive municipal management experience of the group. By vast, I mean geographically, since Robertson has previously served as city manager of cities in Delaware, Maryland, Alaska, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, chief of staff of the rifle range of White Sands Missiles in New Mexico and chief of staff of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Signal Brigade in Mannheim, Germany, from 2001 to 2005.

Of course, the least surprising name on the list of finalists is Clancy Main, Billerica’s interim city manager, whose primary role before Curran’s departure was that of deputy city manager. Main’s name was constantly put forward for the position, and the selection committee even made the decision to recognize his past experience in municipal government as meeting the requirements of a candidate for municipal leadership. Prior to his three years as deputy city manager, Main served as director of administrative services for two years, a management analyst for more than a year and previously executive assistant to the Littletown city administrator.

The Select Board agenda includes an item to vote on the issue, so Billerica could have its next city manager sooner rather than later. Even if they wait to consider it, their decision will still depend on subsequent contract negotiations with the successful candidate.

This week’s column was prepared by reporters Melanie Gilbert of Lowell and Peter Currier of Billerica.