Gregory B Vilionitsky Bridge
Route 9 Bridge Marker
Like many New England towns, Framingham has a lot of special monuments to remember various people and events. One sign that people may not notice is on a bridge on Route 9. The bridge over the Sudbury river is called the Gregory B Vilionitsky Memorial Bridge.
Who was Gregory B Vilionitsky
Gregory B Vilionitsky was a MassDOT engineer that was killed when a drunk driver crashed into a construction site. This accident occurred on September 14, 2010, at 10:43 p.m. Gregory B Vilionitsky was 57 and a father of two.
Gregory B Vilionitsky was born and raised in Russia. He worked on various road projects in Israel. A few years ago he moved his family from Russia to America for a better life.
How the Bridge Dedication Came About
Representative Chris Walsh sponsored Bill H.3572 which dedicated the bride in Gregory B Vilionitsky memory. The bill was filed on June 27, 2011 - 286 days after the accident. It became active on December 28, 2012.
The bride dedication ceremony was on June 13, 2013.
The accident occurred on Rte. 9 near the Framingham/Southborough border - near the corner of California Ave and Route 9.
In 2009, Gregory B Vilionitsky actually helped construct the bridge that now bears his name.
Sign at the Bridge
In Memory of Civil Engineer, Gregory B. Vilidnitsky
Who was unparalleled in his spirit, charisma, and passion in all aspects of life.
9/16/1952 to 9/14/2010
Drunk Driver
Maine resident Jeremy Gardner pleaded guilty to driving drunk and vehicular homicide charges stemming from the incident and in 2012 he was sentenced to eight years in prison.