Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation

MassDOT Message: We are One Boston

MassDOT state highway message boards during the weekend of April 20-21, 2013 offered messages of unity and thanks following the events of the previous week. 

Today, Monday, April 22, the I-90 Exit 22 Copley ramp has reopened to traffic.  Copley Square-Boylston Street area streets remain closed until further announcement by the City of Boston. 

The MBTA Copley Station remains closed until further notice with Copley Square area bus routes still diverted.  Check mbta.com for the latest information.

I-195 Rapid Bridge Construction Completed

MassDOT last weekend completed the rapid bridge construction replacement of bridge decks that carry I-195 over River Avenue in Fairhaven near the New Bedford line.  The bridge deck replacement during weekends only was completed ahead of the original accelerated schedule.

The bridge deck paving operation on the eastbound side completed on Sunday, April 14 can be seen, left.

The rapid bridge construction technique using eight prefabricated bridge units allowed MassDOT to limit traffic disruptions and replace the deteriorated bridge decks before the busy spring and summer travel season begins.

With the bridge deck construction completed, final project steps include removal of median crossover and existing median decks and final paving on I-195 and River Ave.  The remaining work schedule will avoid the morning and evening commuter rush, and final completion is scheduled for mid-June.

Marathon Response Transportation Updates

Response to the Boston Marathon explosions includes continuing traffic and public transportation impacts in the Boston Copley Square area.

In Boston, I-90 Eastbound Exit 22, the Prudential Ramp ONLY has been reopened as of Wednesday, April 17, 10am.  The Copley Ramp remains closed until further notice.

The MBTA Copley Station remains closed until further notice.  All other normal service has resumed.  Check the MBTA website for the latest alerts.

MBTA Bus Routes currently affected include:

Route 9- Buses are unable to service St. James St; Dartmouth St; Ring Rd; Boylston St. and Copley Station. The route will begin/terminate at Back Bay Station on the Dartmouth St. side.

Route 10- Buses are unable to service St. James St; Dartmouth St. The route will begin/terminate at Back Bay Station on the Dartmouth St. side.

Route 39- Buses are unable to service Copley Station, Boylston St; Huntington Ave; Belvidere St; and Dalton St. Connections can be made on Huntington Ave. at Gainsborough St. and at Back Bay Station on the Clarendon St. side.

Route 55- Buses are unable to service Copley Station, Boylston St; Huntington Ave; Belvidere St; and Dalton St. The route will begin/terminate at Back Bay Station on the Dartmouth St. side. Connections can be made at Back Bay Station and on Boylston St. at Ipswich St.

Routes 502 & 503- Buses are unable to service Stuart St, Copley Square, St. James St; and Dartmouth St. The route will begin/terminate on Federal St. at Franklin St.

For other important Marathon response resources, please visit the Mass.Gov blog.

 

Burlington-Woburn I-95 Construction Alert

Beginning Tuesday, April 16, all four travel lanes on I-95 (Route 128) will be shifted to the right in each direction between Route 3A/Route 3 (Cambridge Street) and Winn Street in Burlington to allow work crews to continue reconstruction of the median area.  The lane shift is expected to remain in place throughout the summer months.

The revised lane configuration will be in place on I-95 (Route 128) North on the morning of Tuesday, April 16 and on I-95 (Route 128) South on the morning of Wednesday, April 17.

There will be no breakdown lane available in either direction within the area that the lanes are shifted.  The available merge area will be reduced for the ramp entering I-95 (Route 128) North from Route 3 (Cambridge Street) North and for the ramp entering I-95 (Route 128) South from Winn Street South.

Appropriate signs and traffic control measures will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.

Drivers should expect some delays and reduce speed and use caution when travelling through the work zone and entering and exiting I-95 (Route 128).

The work is part of a $12.7 million project to upgrade the section of I-95 (Route 128) between South Bedford Street and Route 38.

Worcester: Burns Bridge Project Safety Update

The $89.9 million Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge Replacement Project will continue through summer 2013 with advisories for boat traffic on the lake in the area.  

The Burns Bridge Project is part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s historic Accelerated Bridge Program to repair or replace structurally deficient bridges throughout the Commonwealth.

The project will widen the bridge from two to three travel lanes in each direction and include accessible sidewalks and dedicated bicycle lanes on both sides of the bridge. 

Summertime construction will result in a change from normal conditions on Lake Quinsigamond with certain arches of the existing bridge closed to all boat traffic. A safe passage will be maintained beneath the existing bridge, and the new one as it begins to take shape.  Boaters, please note:

• No Wake Zones have been extended for 300 feet to the north and south of the bridge. These are marked by lighted warning signs and buoys.
• During this summer, the spans which are safe to use will not always be the same. A system of roadway traffic signals suspended over the arches of the existing bridge will mark the safe passage for boaters. A green light shows a safe passage, a red light indicates a closed arch. Often, only a single span will be available.
• Under conditions when only a single span is available, power boats shall yield to non-motorized craft. Northbound boats will yield to those going south.
• Tying up to or climbing on work barges is strictly prohibited. Local police will be monitoring boater compliance. Work barges are not safe for non-construction personnel.

To learn more, visit www.mass.gov/massdot/kenburnsbridge.

Fore River Bridge: The Work Ahead

The Fore River Bridge Replacement is one of the "mega projects" funded through the Patrick-Murray Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program. 

Construction is underway to build the new vertical lift bridge that will carry Route 3A between Quincy and Weymouth. Check out the work phases video below, and learn more at the Fore River Bridge Project website.

 

National Work Zone Awareness Week: April 15-19

The 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week is scheduled for April 15-19.  The theme for this year is "Roadway Work Zone Safety: We're All in This Together."

Check out the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) video reminder about the importance of exercising caution in work zones.

 

 

Fairhaven I-195: Rapid Bridge Construction Update

MassDOT will continue the accelerated replacement of the River Avenue Bridge on Interstate 195 in Fairhaven this weekend.

Here is the project's impact for motorists traveling Eastbound on Interstate 195:

Friday, April 5, 9 p.m.

Traffic will be restricted to one lane Eastbound on I-195 and shifted to the median to begin the demolition and reconstruction of the Eastbound bridge. The on-ramps from Rte 18 North to I-195 East and Washburn Street to I-195 East will be closed and traffic detoured via Coggeshall Street, Howland Road, Alden Road, Bridge Street and Rte 240. Real time work zone traffic management boards will be activated to inform motorists of current traffic. The boards will be located on I-195 East, Rt. 140 South and Rt. 6 East.

Monday, April 8, 6 a.m. – Traffic will be restored to two lanes Eastbound in time for the Monday morning commute.

Friday, April 12 thru Monday, April 15 – Weather permitting, the same sequence as above will complete the remainder of Eastbound work.

The bridge deck replacement on I-195 Westbound is already complete- performed in just one weekend instead of two.

Bates Bridge Project Advances in Spring 2013

The Bates Bridge Replacement Project over the Merrimack River in Groveland/Haverhill continues to progress in April 2013 with roadway work on both sides of the bridge.

The $49.7 million project will replace the existing Bates Bridge with a new bridge located approximately 60 feet downstream.

The existing bridge has remained in service during construction. The new bridge will have a movable span similar to the existing bridge.  The project also includes reconstruction of the approach roadways in Haverhill and Groveland and traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Groveland Street with Lincoln Avenue in Haverhill and at the intersection of Groveland Street with Main Street near Elm Park in Groveland.

During the first two weeks of April, MassDOT contractors are reconstructing the section of Orchard Avenue on the Haverhill side of the new bridge, with the roadway closed and a short detour in place using Ordway Avenue.  Roadway reconstruction on the Groveland approach is expected to begin in late April.

The project is scheduled for completion in early 2014.

River Street/Western Avenue Bridge Public Meeting

MassDOT and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office have scheduled a Public Meeting for the River Street Bridge/Western Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project:

Wednesday, April 10, 5:30-7:30 PM, Honan-Allston Library, Community Room, 300 North Harvard Street, Boston

The purpose of this meeting is to present the River Street Bridge and Western Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project, alternatives being evaluated as part of the design process, and information from the Environmental Notification Form (ENF), filed on March 15.

MassDOT will provide a project presentation. MEPA staff will lead a discussion and answer questions about the project and environmental impacts.

The ENF may be viewed on the River Street/Western Avenue Project website.  Or to obtain a copy, contact Michael Trepanier at Michael.Trepanier@state.ma.us.  

The River Street and Western Avenue Bridge Project will rehabilitate the structurally deficient arch and overpass bridges as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Accelerated Bridge Program.

For public meeting accommodation or language assistance, please contact Stephanie Boundy, Stephanie.boundy@state.ma.us, (857)368-8904.