Chelsea Street Bridge June 1 Closure

The signature $125 million Chelsea Street Bridge project moves into its next critical phase with demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the remaining portions of the new lift structure.

To allow for the work, beginning on Wednesday June 1st, at 12:00 AM and continuing through Thursday, December 1st, the Chelsea Street bridge over Chelsea Creek at the Boston/Chelsea line will be closed.

The navigable channel beneath the bridge will remain open throughout the six-month closure period, except when approved by the Coast Guard.  Channel closures will be coordinated through the Coast Guard and broadcast to mariners on Coast Guard Notices. 

Detours will be in place. All northbound vehicles destined to Chelsea will be directed east on Curtis Street; turn right onto ramp from Route 1A (McClellan Highway) south towards East Boston/Winthrop; left under the Route 1A viaduct; left onto Chaucer Street; bear left onto ramp to Route 1A north; bear right and enter Mahoney Circle/Bell Circle; stay to the right around circle and take fourth exit to Route 1A south; bear right onto Route 16 west; right onto ramp to Route 107 (Broadway) south; slight left onto Eastern Avenue.

Southbound cars and light trucks destined to East Boston will be directed north on Eastern Avenue; turn slight right onto Broadway; right onto ramp to Route 16 (Revere Beach Parkway) east; right onto Route 145 (Revere Beach Parkway) east; right onto ramp to Route 1A (McClellan Highway) south; right onto Curtis Street.

Southbound heavy trucks destined to East Boston will be directed north on Eastern Avenue; turn slight right onto Broadway; right onto ramp to Route 16 (Revere Beach Parkway) east; keep left and enter Mahoney Circle/Bell Circle; stay to the right around circle and take fourth exit to Route 1A south; right onto Curtis Street.

The Chelsea Street Bridge project involves the replacement of a truss-type structure that spans 450 feet and will provide 175 feet of vertical clearance when raised.  The new bridge will provide for four lanes of traffic two pedestrian sidewalks.  The project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2012.

Comments

[Tom Kinneade]

Anytime Massport has to plead above their usual "do this our way or else" you can figure things are slipping for them.

[Karen DiLoreto]

As it is now December 1st, is the bridge open for automobile traffic?
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No. The overall project is on schedule for spring 2012 completion. Exact date for reopening to road traffic will be prior to that but subject to schedules and weather, and will be announced and posted on message boards in advance.

[UK SEO Agency]

MassPort had to actually beg and plead with the Boston Police for us to be able to use Meridian St so we could get to and from work during this phase.
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Allen

[UK SEO Agency]

Local streets are congested enough without all that additional traffic, so to put them on those streets with little more than a detour sign to help traffic move, is just another insult to the community.
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Allen

[AC]

The people of East Boston dared to complain about airport workers using their streets to get to and from work because they have been abused and taken advantage of by MassPort and the airport for nearly 50 years, now. Local streets are congested enough without all that additional traffic, so to put them on those streets with little more than a detour sign to help traffic move, is just another insult to the community. They just want to feel that the detour traffic problems are not seen by the powers that be as just more collateral damage they have to put up and shut up with.

[Joe Murphy]

Thank you so much to the wonderful people of Revere and the classy folks in Boston who complained to the high hilt because we airport employees DARED to use their precious streets to get to and from work while the bridge was closed as they put the framework in place. MassPort had to actually beg and plead with the Boston Police for us to be able to use Meridian St so we could get to and from work during this phase.

[Paul W.]

I live in the brick (condo) bldg you can see between the "goals posts" of the new bridge tower. It's been cool to watch the project's progress, especially when big pieces are lifted into place!

Late one night when they had tarps covering the then framed-in mechanical room(?) at the top of the tower pictured, there were guys working inside, but it was well-lit inside -- casting huge shadows of the workers flowing across the glowing canvas. Looked liked there were aliens up there!

When all is said and done, it's a nice improvement for Chelsea and Eastie to say the least.