MassDOT: Flooding Transportation Impact: Afternoon Update

Below is an afternoon update from Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials on storm-related closures and issues that are affecting state roadways, MBTA commuter rail and subway service, and other transportation infrastructure.

The storm and storm-related flooding is expected to have significant travel impacts in Eastern Massachusetts throughout the afternoon and evening, including the afternoon commute. Residents and commuters are urged to travel safely, plan ahead and seek alternative routes if possible. Transportation updates are being posted on MassDOT’s twitter feed at www.twitter.com/massdot  and MBTA updates are posted on www.mbta.com.

Whether you are traveling by car, commuter rail train, subway or bus, commuters and residents should expect delays during the evening commute as a result of the storm and flooding.

STORM-RELATED HIGHWAY/ROADWAY CLOSURES:
·       EXPECT DELAYS AT ROUTE 128 EXIT 27B RAMP BECAUSE OF FLOODING.  After working all night MassDOT crews have re-opened the Exit 27B exit ramp on Route 95/128SB at Winter St. The area typically experiences extensive traffic delays and congestion during the morning commute and the flooding-related activity and lane closures on Winter Street as a result of the flooding should be expected to cause further delays as commuters try to access business parks located on 1st and 2nd Avenues.

1       CLOSURES NEAR ROUTE 2 NEAR ALEWIFE BECAUSE OF FLOODING: The exit ramp leading to the Alewife MBTA Station off Route 2 Eastbound is closed because of flooding and will likely remain closed during the morning commute.  Route 2 itself is flooding.  Traffic is passing, but expect delays.  Additionally, Route 16 between Massachusetts Avenue and Route 2 in Arlington/Cambridge is currently closed due to flooding.

2       TOPSFIELD ROUTE 1 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS – IPSWICH RIVER FLOODING: Route 1 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds will remain closed in both directions because the Ipswich River has overtopped the roadway.  Rte. 1 in Topsfield near the Danvers town line remains closed because of slope erosion/retaining wall failure.  The Highway Division expects to have that stretch of roadway near the Danvers line open in time for the evening commute.

3       SIX DCR ROADWAYS ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF STORM-RELATED FLOODING: Mystic Valley Parkway in both directions between Main Street and Mystic Avenue in Winchester; Lynnfells Parkway in both directions between Tremont Street and Melrose Street in Melrose, sections of Furnace Brook Parkway. For more information visit: www.mass.gov/dcr.

4       SHORT BEACH (Winthrop Parkway from Broadsount Ave. in Revere to Revere St. in Winthrop);
5       MORRISSEY BLVD in both directions in Dorchester between Tolman Street and Conley Street near Tenean Beach.
6       MORTON STREET in Dorchester between Harvard St. and rotary at Casey Overpass (near Forest Hills T stop).
7       BILLERICA ROUTE 3A CLOSED AT SHAWSHEEN RIVER: Billerica, Route 3A at Shawsheen River (north of Cook St.) closed.

8       ROUTE 110, CHELMSFORD CLOSED:  Route 110 Chelmsford is closed from Chelmsford Center to Hunt Road due to flooding of an adjacent brook that washed out 10-15 feet of roadway edge. Repairs will not be possible until the water recedes.

9       BRYANT AVE. RAMP OFF ROUTE 93SB IN MILTON CLOSED.
10      ROUTE 20 AT ROUTE 27 IN WAYLAN CLOSED BECAUSE OF SUDBURY RIVER FLOODING.
11      WASHINGTON ST IN WOBURN CLOSED AT SALEM STREET (Aberjona River).
12      ROUTE 28 IN ANDOVER CLOSED AT N. READING TOWN LINE.
13      ROUTE 38 SOUTHBOUND IN TEWKSBURY CLOSED AT SHAWSHEEN STREET.
14      ROUTE 16 IN HOLLISTON CLOSED.
15      ROUTE 135 IN NATICK CLOSED FROM MILL TO SPEEN STREETS, LOCAL DETOUR IN EFFECT.
·       STORM-RELATED LANE CLOSURES:
·       Wilmington - Route 38 SB south of Route 62 (1st travel lane closed)

1       Lincoln - Route 2 EB at Lexington Road 1st travel and BDL closed
2       Lincoln - Route 2A EB at Brooks Road  - shoulder closure
3       Burlington - Route 95/128 SB at Route 3A - bdl closed
4       Westport Rte 6WB - Adjacent Brook over-flowing onto roadway. Crews on scene monitoring.


MBTA TRANSIT/COMMUTER RAIL DELAYS:
·       GREEN LINE D BRANCH SERVICE DELAYS:  MBTA is getting ready to resume service between Fenway to Kenmore. Service should be restored in time for the evening commute.

1       GREEN LINE D BRANCH DELAYS:  Because of a large sinkhole under the tracks between Chestnut Hill and Newton Center Station on the D branch of the Green Line as seen above, buses are replacing train service between Riverside and Reservoir Stations – in both directions.  Repairs are expected to take several days.

2       COMMUTER RAIL DELAYS:  The Lowell Line is experiencing delays because of flooding at Wilmington Station. Wilmington Station has now REOPENED.  The Framingham/Worcester line, Franklin Line, Providence/Stoughton lines all experiencing 15-20 minute delays.

3       BUS DELAYS AND REROUTING: Bus routes 16, 79, 215 & 350 being rerouted because of local flooding conditions.
RMV REVERE BRANCH RE-OPENED:

The Registry of Motor Vehicles Revere Branch has re-opened.

MASS. AERONAUTICS COMMISSION MONITORING NORWOOD AIRPORT BECAUSE OF FLOODING:

With the Neponset River in flood stage as of Sunday afternoon, the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission is monitoring the condition of the Norwood Airport, located in the river’s flood plain. More localized flooding is expected as the flood plain waters continue to rise. Norwood Airport was closed for about 10 days in 1998 because of flooding. The Neponset River is close to the level it reached at that time.  

All businesses at the Airport should prepare a contingency plan that addresses the possible ground handling of aircraft, as the situation dictates, away from those areas of the airport that flood. The flood waters will be most severe, and originating, in the southern and eastern quadrants. The field elevation of the north quadrant is highest and flooding will occur there last. Prepare for possible taxiway and runway closures.

Comments

[John Barry]

The list is incomplete. What about Route 117 in Lincoln? The road is closed at Rt 126. I spent 90 minutes stuck in traffic because of this - with a lot of company.
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MassDOT Responds: Sorry for your inconvenience. We try to be as comprehensive as possible given the information available. Some roads, however, are under local jurisdiction, including Route 117, which remains closed as of Friday AM.

[Alicia]

Thank you for the clear, organized, comprehensive list. This will be very helpful to commuters.