Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

Longfellow Bridge Project Public Hearing Set

MassDOT has scheduled a Public Hearing on the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project as follows: 

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm, State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Conference Rooms 1, 2 and 3, Boston
       
The public hearing will provide opportunity for public comments on the Environmental Assessment for the proposed Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project.

The Longfellow Bridge is a signature project of the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program to replace or rehabilitate structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.

The Longfellow is one of the most architecturally significant bridges in Massachusetts, completed in 1908 and renamed to honor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1927.  The bridge joins Cambridge Street in Boston with Main Street in Cambridge and carries the MBTA Red Line and other modes of transportation across the Charles River. The bridge presently carries 28,000 motor vehicles, 90,000 transit users, and significant numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists each day.

The MassDOT Highway Division's Accelerated Bridge Program project will repair structural deficiencies and accommodate public transit, motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian transportation options, while restoring the historic elements of the bridge.  The Environmental Assessment document includes the preferred cross section of the bridge that will carry one lane of traffic outbound and two lanes inbound, with sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides and the MBTA Red Line in the center.

Written views received by MassDOT up to five days prior to the public hearing will be displayed for public inspection. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the meeting begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT project website.

Comments on the Environmental Assessment must be submitted by March 21, 2012. Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Pamela S. Stephenson, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 55 Broadway, 10th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, Attention: Damaris Santiago with a copy to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Acting Chief Engineer, MassDOT Highway Division, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Kevin Walsh, Project File No. 604361. Such submissions will also be accepted at the meeting. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us.

Charles River: Anderson Bridge Project Advances

The Patrick-Murray Administration is moving forward with reconstruction of the Anderson Memorial Bridge, funded by the Accelerated Bridge Program to repair or replace structurally-deficient bridges across the Commonwealth.

The $19.9 million project approved by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will rehabilitate the historic bridge, often known as the "Larz Anderson Bridge," a critical transportation link connecting Cambridge and Boston.   The project is one of several funded by ABP along the Charles River Basin, including the Longfellow and Boston University (BU) Bridge projects.

The Anderson Memorial Bridge project will repair deterioration, upgrade structural capacity and improve local street connections and accessibility, while preserving as many of the original bridge elements as possible. MassDOT will minimize disruptions to all bridge users and maintain access during construction, which will begin in spring 2012 and is scheduled for completion in 2014.

More than $400 million in Accelerated Bridge Program funding has been allocated to Charles River Basin projects, including the Craigie Dam Bridge and Drawbridge, Longfellow Bridge, B. U. Bridge, Western Avenue Bridge, River Street Bridge and Magazine Street Pedestrian Bridge.  The Craigie project is complete and BU Bridge substantially complete, while the Longfellow Bridge and Magazine Pedestrian Bridge projects are ongoing and the Western and River Street projects are in design.

Fore River Bridge Replacement Hearing Set

MassDOT has scheduled a Design Public Hearing for the proposed Fore River Bridge Replacement Project in Weymouth-Quincy for the following date and location:

Thursday, February 9, 7pm, Adams Middle School Auditorium, 89 Middle Street, East Weymouth

The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed bridge replacement alternative. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

The proposed project funded by the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program to repair or replace structurally-deficient bridges will replace the current temporary bridge with a new, movable span that will safely and efficiently meet the needs of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and maritime users for the next 75 years. The new bridge will include two travel lanes, a bicycle accommodating shoulder and sidewalk in each direction. The project also includes removal of the temporary bridge.

Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project.  For more information, visit the Fore River Bridge Project website.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Acting Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: Michael O’Dowd, Project File No. 604382. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing.  Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us

Storm Roadway Repairs Move Forward

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has provided funding awards to aid in the repair of roadways damaged by the tornadoes that hit the central and western parts of Massachusetts on June 1, 2011, and Tropical Storm Irene on August 26, 2011.

The first award of approximately $4 million provides reimbursement to local communities for tornado damage repair. A second grant of nearly $41 million covers Tropical Storm Irene repairs, with a large portion of the funds paying for Route 2 repairs. Communities receiving reimbursement for repairs include Adams, Ashfield, Charlemont, Goshen, Hawley, and Falmouth.

“We are pleased to reimburse communities for the cost of making these necessary repairs and thank the Obama Administration and members of our Congressional delegation for their support and recognition of the great need in these emergency circumstances,” said Secretary Davey.

Communities will use the federal funds for the following projects:

Adams- $15,000 for East Hoosac Street road and slope repairs. MassDOT previously announced an award of $120,000 for culvert repair along East Road.

Ashfield- $15,000 for Williamsburg Road road and slope repairs, $8,000 for Pleasant Street culvert and road repairs, $6,000 for Route 116 road and slope repairs.

Charlemont- $441,000 for South River Road road and slope repairs, $24,000 for North River Road road and slope repairs.  MassDOT previously announced the reimbursement of $75,000 for South River Road.

Falmouth- $300,000 for shoulder and sidewalk repairs on Menauhant Road.

These funds are in addition to reimbursements announced last month in Franklin, Berkshire and Bristol counties.

Route 24 Interchange 8B Opens

The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced the completion and opening of Route 24 Interchange 8B, a signature project that created jobs while investing in the state’s infrastructure to enhance long term economic development. The $35 million project created a new exit and interchange, 8B, between the existing exits 8 and 9 on Route 24 in Freetown and is funded by the Obama Administration's federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The project will reduce congestion at exits 8, 9 and South Main Street while providing access to the new Fall River Executive Park. The project constructed a new street, Executive Park Drive, connecting Riggenbach Road and South Main Street and providing access to the Executive Park and the Exit 8B ramps. The project also includes a new bridge to carry Executive Park Drive over Route 24 and entrance and exit ramps to connect Route 24 north and southbound to Executive Park Drive.

The project work began in early 2010 and has been completed on schedule in less than two years. To speed construction and minimize the disruption to the traveling public, MassDOT used an expedited design/build approach to construction management.  More information is available on the Interchange 8B Project website.

New Year's Travel Update

MassDOT asks travelers during the upcoming New Year's holiday weekend to plan ahead, drive safely, and use public transportation.

MassDOT's Traffic and Travel Resources page includes links to all MassDOT travel resources.

Visit MassDOT's online traffic camera webpage with more than 90 live traffic cameras throughout the highway system. The cameras refresh every 10 seconds to provide real time traffic views.  The 511 traffic alert system alerts customers to traffic conditions throughout the holiday weekend.

Courtesy of McDonald's, Burger King, and Gulf, and to promote safe driving, free coffee will be served overnight on New Year’s Eve, Saturday December 31, 10:00pm. to Sunday January 1, 5:00am, at the following locations:

11 service plazas on I-90/MassPike; Route 3, Plymouth; Route 128, Beverly; Route128/I-95, Lexington and Newton; Route 24, north and southbound service plazas; and Route 6, Barnstable.

On New Year's Eve, Saturday, December 31, the MBTA is offering FREE SERVICE AFTER 8:00pm and providing extra transit services throughout First Night festivities:

• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. Additional trains will operate and provide rush-hour levels of service throughout the evening from 3:00 p.m. until approximately 2:00 a.m.
• Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule.
• Commuter Rail Service on New Year’s Eve will operate on a Saturday schedule with extended extra service provided.

Check the MBTA New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and New Year's holiday January 2 schedule

 

Waltham: Winter Street Bridge Completed

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today announced the completion of the $23 million Winter Street Bridge reconstruction project over Rt. 128 in Waltham.

“Governor Deval Patrick has made bridge and roadway infrastructure improvements a priority in his Administration,” Secretary Davey said. “Residents, commuters, local business and business travelers are already benefitting from the newly reconstructed Winter Street Bridge. Projects like this one help to fuel a healthy economy.”

Along with the addition of three travel lanes, the project, which began in 2005, also doubled the size of the intersection at Wyman Street and increased the ease of navigating the on and off-ramps to Route 128.

“Today’s ribbon-cutting has been a long time coming. In 2006, financial issues with the original contractor stalled the project. We persevered and MassDOT is proud of the finished job,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Frank DePaola.

Innovative project sequencing by MassDOT allowed for the relocation and continued infrastructure support of major utility lines during demolition of the old bridge structure and construction of the new bridge abutments.

MassDOT Grants: Tropical Storm Irene Repairs

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey has announced that several communities in Berkshire, Bristol, and Franklin Counties will benefit from a Federal Highway Administration grant awarded to MassDOT to cover emergency highway repairs in the wake of damage in August caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

The $4.65 million FHWA grant award funds emergency repairs made to restore the flow of traffic as well as efforts to minimize damage and the repairs necessary to restore the roadway to its pre-disaster condition.

The State of Emergency Declaration issued by Governor Deval Patrick and the efforts of the Massachusetts congressional delegation made the state eligible for funding.

In Bristol County:

Westport- up to $350,000 for a temporary by-pass and further work.

In Berkshire County:

Adams- $120,000 for culvert repairs on East Road.
Monterey- $37,000 for repair work on Routes 57 and 23.
Mount Washington- $111,000 for retaining wall work, road and slope repair on Bish Bash Road.
New Marlboro- $23,000 for road and slope repair on Route 57.
North Adams-$75,000 for road and slope repair on West Shaft Road; $40,000 for road and drainage repairs on State Street.
Peru- $20,000 for waterway report on Rt. 143; $20,000 for road repairs on Rt. 143 West of Lafayette.
Savoy- $22,000 for road repair and slope repairs on Route 116. 
Tyringham- $50,000 for road repair and slope repair on Main Road.

In Franklin County:

Buckland- $110,000 for repairs and highway lighting on Conway Street; $75,000 for road and slope repair on Charlemont Road.
Charlemont- $94,000 for road repair and slope repair on Route 8A; $75,000 for road repair and slope repair on South River Road.
Colrain- $500,000 for road repair slope repair on Adamsville Road.
Conway- $20,000 for culvert repair and clean-up on Shelburne Falls Road; $150,000 for drainage work, road and slope repair on North Poland Road; $100,000 for drainage work, road and ditch repair on Main Poland Road.
Heath- $53,000 for Route 8A; $31,000 for Avery Brook Road; $75,000 for West Branch Road.

BU Bridge Nears Completion: Lane Reopens

MassDOT crews have completed striping the Boston University Bridge, which carries traffic over the Charles River between Cambridge and Boston.

Effective today, the BU Bridge has reopened to one lane onto the bridge transitioning into two lanes exiting the bridge at both the Boston and Cambridge approaches, seen today at left. Two dedicated 5-foot bike lanes run adjacent to the sidewalks.

The project began in 2009 and has included a full deck replacement, sidewalk rehabilitation, bridge superstructure reconstruction, and a new environmentally friendly drainage system. The bridge rehabilitation has preserved original historic elements of the bridge.   The BU Bridge project is one of the Charles River Basin projects funded by the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program to repair and replace structurally-deficient bridges.

Finishing work should be completed by the end of 2011 and tree plantings will be completed in the spring of 2012.

Christmas Holiday Travel

MassDOT encourages residents and visitors to drive safely and use public transportation where possible during the upcoming holiday weekend.

During holidays, I-90 Exit 9 connecting I-84 to Connecticut and New York experiences heavy traffic and busy toll plazas. Drivers are encouraged to consider travel during the early morning or after 8 p.m.  Traffic congestion is also typical at the I-95 and I-495 Turnpike interchanges along with I-495 and I-93 northbound leading into New Hampshire.

MassDOT's Traffic and Travel Resources page includes links to all MassDOT travel resources.

Visit MassDOT's online traffic camera webpage with more than 90 live traffic cameras throughout the highway system. The cameras refresh every 10 seconds to provide real time traffic views.  The 511 traffic alert system alerts customers to traffic conditions throughout the holiday weekend.

As always on major travel holidays, free coffee will be served at all 18 MassDOT service plazas courtesy of McDonalds, Burger King, and Gulf between 10 p.m. on Christmas night, Sunday, December 25, until 5 a.m. on Monday, December 26.

In case of wintry travel weather, motorists should drive with headlights on, observe posted speed limits, never drink and drive, make sure everyone is using a seatbelt and be on the lookout for changing weather conditions. More information on safe winter driving is available at the MassDOT website.

The MBTA Christmas holiday service schedule is available below and at www.mbta.com.

Sunday, December 25

• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a regular Sunday schedule.
• Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular Sunday schedule.
• Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will not operate.
• Hingham, Quincy, and Hull commuter boat service will not operate.
• THE RIDE Service will operate on a modified holiday schedule.

Monday, December 26

• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule.
• Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule.
• Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will operate on a regular Weekend schedule.
• Hingham and Hull commuter boat service will not operate.
• Quincy ferries will operate on a Weekend Schedule.
• THE RIDE Service will not offer subscription service. Customers should contact their contractors for service information.

For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, please call the MBTA Customer Service Center at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146).