MassDOT has announced modifications to its Mystic/Tobin Bridge repair initiative. Among the planned changes is a month-long shutdown of the Everett Avenue on-ramp starting May 7.
The state transportation department made adjustments to its Tobin work schedule in response to concurrent construction efforts in the vicinity. The Alford Street Bridge, North Washington Street Bridge, and Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Boston are all scheduled for repairs. Because of these overlapping projects, MassDOT decided against implementing a permanent northbound lane closure on the lower deck.
Instead of the original plan for a permanent lane closure on the lower deck (Route 1 northbound) from April 22 through November, the department will narrow travel lanes in the affected area and conduct off-peak lane closures as needed. During peak commute times this year, the bridge will maintain three full lanes of travel.
The following construction impacts are scheduled for this season:
- Off-peak lane closures on the lower deck (Route 1 northbound) continuing through November 2018.
- Off-peak lane closures on the upper deck (Route 1 southbound) continuing through November 2018.
- Everett Avenue on-ramp closure for a one-month period beginning May 7.
- Beacon Street off-ramp closure for a two-month period beginning in summer 2018.
- Fourth Street off-ramp closure for a one-month period in 2019.
At no point during the project will more than one ramp be closed simultaneously.
“We are investing historic levels of funding into our highway transportation system and we are seeking to do so in ways that minimize impacts on the travel public and our local communities,” Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver stated. “Our construction teams have worked hard to optimize the schedule of operations to better accommodate travel throughout this area. We continue to encourage members of the public to learn about upcoming traffic impacts and use the appropriate tools to make the best decisions on traveling in order to reach their destinations in an efficient manner.”
The $41.6 million undertaking involves deck repairs on the Tobin Bridge, which connects Charlestown in Boston with Chelsea. The project is expected to conclude by the end of 2020, with traffic disruptions anticipated during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 construction seasons.
The work encompasses steel repairs to both decks, concrete deck work on the lower deck, waterproofing and resurfacing, pavement marking installation, utility work, curbing installation, paving, and construction of a new parking area beneath the bridge between Williams Street and Third Street.