Longfellow Bridge Demolition Means Weekend Street Closings

Bikers, drivers, and pedestrians should choose their routes carefully, this weekend as streets close for ongoing work on the Longfellow Bridge.

MassDOT contractor White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC) will close Land Boulevard/Memorial Drive westbound near the Longfellow Bridge from 10 p.m. on Friday, September 30, to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 2.

Writes MassDOT, "The closure is necessary to safely demolish Span 12 of the Longfellow Bridge above the roadway."

Detour routes and maps for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians are described and linked below.

Signage will be in place to indicate the approved detour routes.

Detour options for vehicles from Memorial Drive/Land Boulevard westbound destined for Memorial Drive westbound and Kendall Square (view map):

• Turn right onto Binney Street, turn left onto Third Street, and then turn left onto Broadway. Follow Broadway to continue onto Main Street and turn right toward Memorial Drive westbound (immediately before the Longfellow Bridge), or
• Turn right onto the Main Street ramp (immediately before the Longfellow Bridge), and follow Main Street to continue onto Broadway. From Broadway, turn left onto Ames Street, and then turn right onto Memorial Drive westbound.

Please note, there are height restrictions for trucks and buses on Memorial Drive.

Detour for Outbound Bicyclists Destined for Kendall Square (view map):

• From the Longfellow Bridge, turn left immediately after the bridge and continue straight across the crosswalk to the bike/pedestrian path. From the path, use the crosswalk at Land Boulevard westbound to access the sidewalk along Memorial Drive eastbound. Follow Memorial Drive eastbound to the intersection with Cambridge Parkway, use the crosswalks to reach Land Boulevard westbound, and then turn right onto the off-ramp to Main Street.
• For an alternate route, use Memorial Drive westbound and turn right onto Wadsworth Street to reach the Kendall Square area.

Detours for Pedestrians Destined for Memorial Drive/Land Boulevard:

• From the Kendall Square area, follow the signed detour to Third Street, or to Memorial Drive eastbound.
• From the Longfellow Bridge, turn left immediately after the bridge and continue straight across the crosswalk to the bike/pedestrian path. From the path, use the crosswalk at Land Boulevard westbound to access the sidewalk along Memorial Drive eastbound. Follow Memorial Drive eastbound to the intersection with Cambridge Parkway, use the crosswalks to reach Land Boulevard westbound, and then turn right onto the off-ramp to Main Street.

Photo by Alison Bauter, Patch staff