No movement on Hix Bridge Landing impasse

Bull calls situation “dangerous,” but it is unclear whether a solution is in the works

By Ted Hayes
Posted 8/30/24

It’s anyone’s guess when the Hix Bridge Landing exit ramp will re-open to the public, as negotiations between the town and Masons continue without a resolution so far.

“It …

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No movement on Hix Bridge Landing impasse

Bull calls situation “dangerous,” but it is unclear whether a solution is in the works

Posted

It’s anyone’s guess when the Hix Bridge Landing exit ramp will re-open to the public, as negotiations between the town and Masons continue without a resolution so far.

“It continues to be a dangerous situation for people entering and exiting the boat ramp,” Westport Landing Commission chairman Jeff Bull said Wednesday evening.

The landing’s exit has been closed since earlier this summer, after Masons members put an orange snow fence across a portion that passes over land the organization owns. Since then, cars have been exiting via the entrance just east of the bridge.

Town administrator James Hartnett and the town’s legal counsel have been speaking with a Mason attorney in hopes of agreeing on a license or other document that would allow public transit across the Mason land to resume. So far, they have not reached an agreement.

On Monday, Bull told the select board that while the landing commission is only peripherally involved in the issue, he hopes for a solution soon. Part of the problem is uncertainty over the land’s ownership. Though the town sold the Masons land abutting what is now Hix Bridge Landing years ago, it is unclear what stipulations, if any, were included when the deed was signed.

“The history of it is unclear,” Bull said. “When the town sold all that property to them for $1 many years ago, there must have been an agreement from the people sitting in this room, and the Masons, that this would become public use because not only did the town help fill that property,” a former gravel pit, “the town (also) did significant work improving that property. So there must have been an agreement but there’s no paperwork and it’s not in the deeds.”

On Wednesday, he told fellow landing commissioners that he hopes for a resolution soon.

“The last thing we’ve heard is that they may be willing to give us, or sell us, an easement, but they did not want to sign a temporary licensing agreement.”

“It’s unfortunate but it’s worth pursuing,” Bull said. “Hopefully the Masons will work with us. They’re a public spirited group ... I think that’s what’s in their charter. We’re the public.”

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