Due to slower-than-anticipated progress on an Eversource undertaking and the necessity to complete significant off-site roadwork before the season ends, Encore Boston Harbor and the City of Everett made a joint announcement on Tuesday. The streets of Beacham, Robin, and Dexter in Everett will essentially be inaccessible from Aug. 8 through October.
Chelsea stands to experience considerably greater disruption than Everett from this closure. The thoroughfare providing access to the New England Produce Center will be effectively blocked, while airport taxi services will be rerouted from their customary path along Beacham Street.
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Tom Ambrosino, City Manager, acknowledged the need to observe how circumstances develop in coming weeks to determine an appropriate municipal response. “It’s just hard to say what the impact will be,” he said. “Given the Second Street alternative (for the Produce Center), I’m hoping the impact is not too substantial. But, we will have to wait and see.”
Police Chief Brian Kyes indicated that the Police Department would utilize its signage throughout the municipality to communicate details regarding this sudden change to residents.
A coordinated approach combining the Eversource transmission line work with the Encore traffic project had been hoped for by many observers, believing this dual-project model would alleviate construction pressures in the densely affected area. This strategy did not materialize, according to Everett Planner Jay Monti, who noted that Eversource’s pace lagged behind expectations. The resulting delay now threatens Encore’s ability to complete necessary work before the outdoor construction season concludes in early November, when asphalt production ceases.
“Due to delays in permitting and obstructions on the road, Eversource has gotten behind schedule to the point it’s going to threaten Encore in getting its [off-site] roadwork done and without that work they can’t open the casino next year. We’re up against a wall and the only way to get it to work is to go 24 hours a day and essentially shut down the roadsÉThings got critical last week and Eversource was just not making progress. Encore came to us and said they can’t wait any longer. They can’t risk not opening up the casino on time because of the Eversource project running behind.”
Beginning Aug. 8 and extending approximately 10 weeks into October, the closure enables Eversource to maintain continuous operations across three shifts, completing their tasks before moving toward Chelsea and East Boston. Subsequently, Encore will operate around the clock to finish work previously held in abeyance by Eversource’s schedule delays.
The 10-week corridor shutdown will accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic, Monti explained. Roads will technically remain passable for vehicles, yet traversing them at any hour will prove extremely challenging. Accordingly, residents are being urged to consider alternative routes for reaching the airport, the Produce Center, and other destinations. “For all intents and purposes, it’s closed because anyone who goes down there will sit in traffic for three hours,” he said. “We want to send a message to people who use that corridor. If you’re a cabbie going to or coming from the airport, you have to take the Tobin and pay the toll. If you’re a delivery driver for Amazon, we don’t want you in that area because this work needs to get done. If you’re a driver for the Produce Center, we encourage you to take Rt. 16 and Second Street into Chelsea.”