The future of the exit ramp at Hix Bridge Landing is unknown this week, after town officials and owners of the land on which part of it sits were unable to reach an agreement that would open it back up to the public.

"The Association will not be entering into a temporary license agreement with the Town at this time, due to multiple concerns," David R. Lucas, general counsel for the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, wrote in an e-mail to Shorelines Monday.

The exit ramp, which allows drivers to leave the landing without pulling straight into eastbound traffic immediately adjacent to the bridge, crosses from town land onto a small triangle of private land owned by the Noquochoke Hall Association, before exiting onto Hix Bridge Road. Noquochoke officials closed the exit temporarily last fall, and again about two and a half weeks ago, due to liability concerns.

After it closed, town officials worked with Lucas to work out details of a licensing agreement that would allow the public to use the exit ramp while protecting Noquochoke's rights, and lodge officials met last Monday evening to discuss the agreement.

While town administrator James Hartnett wrote Monday that the town is still waiting for the agreement to be signed, Lucas did not say when or if that would occur. In the meantime, internally lit signs adjacent to the landing warn drivers passing by on Hix Bridge that cars are exiting via the entrance.