The Chelsea Street Bridge project consultant John Vitagliano has announced that preliminary traffic closures will begin during the first week of March. “This is the start of a four month series of temporary night-time closures from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for a couple of days per week and occasional weekend closures during the same hours,” said Vitagliano. “The weekend closures allow us to shorten this new construction phase by over a month.” Over a four-month construction period, the project will enable installation of four massive vertical support towers, each approximately 200 ft. high, which will arrive by barge from Florida. While traffic concerns and rerouting have been raised by some residents, Vitagliano reassured the community that operations remain on track, with daytime traffic maintained to the greatest extent possible to serve commuters between Chelsea and East Boston. “We have made complete arrangements for traffic details with both the East Boston and Chelsea Police Departments to assure expedited traffic flow, and will also provide many directional signs including variable message boards to alternative routes,” said Vitagliano. Replacement of the structurally-deficient 73-year-old Chelsea Street Bridge with a new state-of-the-art drawbridge is now underway. U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano secured the project’s funding through the federal transportation bond bill several years prior. Within the past two weeks, the federal government authorized the state to allocate $437.9 million in transportation projects via federal highway funds, dedicating $153.2 million to “shovel-ready” projects. Last year, the Patrick Administration put the first eight recovery projects out to bid, dedicating an estimated total of approximately $30 million for infrastructure improvements in every region of the state. The Chelsea Street Bridge was one of these projects. “The unprecedented economic challenges confronting our Commonwealth have made the mission of government clear – we must secure our common economic future,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Our Massachusetts Recovery Plan will integrate state, federal and private resources so we can deliver immediate relief and long-term solutions. The Chelsea Street Bridge reconstruction is just one way to create and sustain the jobs and the opportunities that will move our people and our economy forward once again.” The replacement structure will be a truss-type design spanning 450 feet with 175 feet of vertical clearance when raised. Featuring four lanes of traffic (two in each direction) and two pedestrian sidewalks, the new bridge and approach roadway will match the existing footprint. A comprehensive warning signal and gate system will be installed as part of the project, with approach roadways reconstructed to meet local streets. The narrow passageway has created long-standing hazards for oil tankers, resulting in accidents. Since 1972, 133 incidents have occurred involving ships, tugs or barges striking the bridge. The new structure addresses safety and environmental concerns, as fewer collisions will reduce oil spill risks. A 50,000-gallon fuel oil tanker collision in June 2000 closed the waterway and delayed aviation fuel deliveries for three days. Coordination between warning gate and bridge traffic signal operations with the Central Avenue/Marginal Street/Eastern Avenue intersection in Chelsea will manage traffic flow during bridge openings. J.F. White Contracting Co. of Framingham serves as the state’s contractor. The project is scheduled for completion in April 2012. Additional details are available at www.mass.gov/recovery and www.mass.gov/youmovemassachusetts.
