MassDOT is moving forward with the latest "Heavy Lift" project as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program to rebuild structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.
Demolition work on the River Street Bridge carrying traffic over the MBTA and CSX Railroad in Boston will begin on Friday, April 13.
The heavy lift project will rapidly replace the bridge’s superstructure and abutments using innovative Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques to complete the project quickly.
During the work, the MBTA CSX rail line will be closed from Friday, April 13 at 10 PM through Monday, April 16 at 5 AM and roadway detours will be in place during the work starting on Friday, April 13 at 10 PM through Monday, April 23 at 5 AM.
The project work will include demolition of the existing bridge superstructure. Once the old superstructure is demolished, the contractor will prepare the bridge abutments for the new superstructure. MassDOT is pre-constructing the new superstructure just southwest of the bridge. It will be moved into place using specialized heavy lifting equipment. Heavy-lift machines, Self-Propelled Modular Transporters, will lift the new superstructure, move it down to the railroad tracks, carry it along the tracks, and lower it into position.
Workers will then prepare and pave the approaches to the bridge. The work and detour period of no more than ten days will minimize impacts to the surrounding community and is scheduled during the April school vacation. By using accelerated bridge construction methods on this project, MassDOT avoided more than two years of lane restrictions and reduced the period of night work. MassDOT has successfully used the "heavy lift" technique to replace bridges in Phillipston, Wellesley and Boston.
To learn details of the River Street Eastbound and Westbound detours, local access, and MBTA Bus detours of Routes 24 and 33, please visit the project website, www.mass.gov/massdot/hydeparkheavylift and MBTA.com.
Congrats to MassDOT. I was there the day they moved the Wellesley Bridge into place over Route 9 and I will be there for this bridge move too.
Posted by: Matthew | March 26, 2012 at 11:11 AM