Construction on the $25 million Chelsea Street Bridge project continues to advance, with the steel ribbed roadway—designed to raise and lower for passing ships—now ready for installation. This summer will mark the beginning of a $40 million undertaking to remove lead paint, repaint, and perform structural repairs on the Mystic portion of the Tobin Bridge. The project’s final design and scope received approval in March, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has begun coordinating with Chelsea and Charlestown officials to discuss potential lane closures and traffic management strategies.
Concerns have emerged about the timing of this work, particularly given that it will overlap with repairs to the Alford Street/Route 99 Bridge connecting Charlestown to Everett—a corridor many drivers would use to circumvent Tobin Bridge congestion. According to DOT plans, one lane in each direction will close from spring through fall over the next three years, with additional night and weekend closures scheduled as well. “We have to make sure we keep the interest at the forefront of DOT and keep the impact as minimal as it can be,” Senator Sal DiDomenico told the Herald. “I stand with the neighborhood and I want to make sure the neighborhood is the first priority.” Representative Eugene O’Flaherty expressed concern that motorists attempting to avoid both the Tobin lane closures and Route 16 repair work could create significant traffic problems for Chelsea and neighboring communities.
The Mystic section of the Tobin Bridge has not been painted since the structure’s completion in 1948, making this the first comprehensive repainting effort in more than seven decades.