Contractors have preliminarily finished the northbound lane as part of the 18-month Bridge replacement initiative near City Hall on Washington Avenue.
Several weeks back, a temporary lane became available for inspection, though traffic was prohibited from using it following the Bridge’s closure to all vehicles on May 26.
State authorities are still deliberating on how to manage the northbound lane’s opening and whether to permit all northbound traffic to utilize the newly constructed lane.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino has expressed a preference for restricting the lane to emergency vehicles when it does open.
“On the Washington Ave bridge, we have requested that, when it opens, the northbound lane be open solely to emergency vehicles,” he stated Monday. “MassDOT is considering that idea, but, they are still not yet ready for any opening at all as of today. It appears the earliest time will be next week.”
For the Fire Department, opening the lane to emergency vehicles carries particular significance, as it will alleviate difficulties in reaching the city’s northern sections from the Central Fire Station.
Yet this development will probably result in the discontinuation of state funding for the fourth Fire Engine company stationed at the Central Fire Station, which has been operating since the Bridge closure.
Fire officials have hoped that maintaining the fourth engine in service would persuade City officials
The northbound lane of the Washington Avenue Bridge has been preliminarily completed recently, and City officials hope the state will agree to limit traffic on the new lane to emergency
vehicles only.
to make the change permanent, a goal they have repeatedly advocated for without securing City funding approval.
Once the Bridge opens within the coming weeks, a confrontation over this matter is anticipated, particularly when a new Fire Chief takes office in March 2016.
The complete Bridge project is anticipated to conclude in Fall 2016 – though the contractor has substantial financial incentives built into the agreement for early completion.