Comm Ave Bridge Replacement Project: How It Could Impact You

BOSTON, MA — Remember that three week stretch last summer where the Comm Ave Bridge was mostly closed down and traffic below was rerouted? Get ready for part 2.

Goodbye, Commonwealth Ave. For two weeks this summer, at least.

MassDOT is closing Comm. Ave. from Kenmore Square to Packard's Corner to most vehicles while the Comm. Ave. bridge gets more work done to update it. Although there will be a dry run of the shut down in June the project begins July 26 and will last 15.5 days, MassDOT says. Some traffic will still be allowed through like last time.

The closure will target "private vehicles" and will be in both directions. This will allow for access "for local businesses and customers, residents, MBTA buses, emergency services, pedestrians, and bicyclists," MassDOT said. Subscribe to Boston Patch for more locals news about the Hub.

All of this is part of a $110 million bridge replacement project that began last summer.

MassDOT said expect similar traffic impacts as happened last summer when construction crews demolished and replaced the eastbound side of the bridge as well as MBTA Green Line infrastructure.

For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to your Free neighborhood Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Between July 26 and August 11, if you Bus, T, car and, yes, bike, in the Boston University/Saint Paul Street neighborhood of Boston along Commonwealth Avenue you're going to see some delays, detours and a whole lot of construction. Commuter rail and Amtrak riders, drivers along Commonwealth Avenue and the Boston University Bridge, and traffic on I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) will all also be impacted, officials warned.

There will be detours and transit shuttles for some station stops on the MBTA’s Green Line B Branch, MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47, the Worcester Commuter Rail Line, and Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited route.

Contractor work on the bridge will take place in continuous 24 hour shifts and the plan there is to utilize "Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques," MassDOT said in a release Monday.

"This project, which would take an estimated four to five years using conventional techniques with significant lane-takings and service disruptions, is scheduled for completion in 2019 under the accelerated plans," according to the release.

The westbound side of the bridge will be constructed this summer using 3 cranes that weigh 600 tons each. Crews will then put 45 steel beams and 214 pre-fabricated concrete deck panels into place.

But what about the bike lanes and pedestrian crossing at that notoriously complicated intersection?

MassDOT says the full scope of the project will not only include a replaced Commonwealth Avenue Bridge superstructure but it will "add functional and safety improvements to Commonwealth Avenue, such as additional dedicated bike lanes and extensive pedestrian improvements."

MassDOT asks folks who normally frequent that area to avoid it as much as possible, by rerouting or consider using alternate modes of transportation. Ie) if you normally drive in on the Pike that way either go another way or take the commuter rail or just work from home if you can.

The Baker-Polito Administration has invested more than $3.3 billion in highway transportation projects since January 2015, and this fiscal year, will invest more than $1.5 billion in upgrading roads, bridges, intersections, and multi-modal pathways.

Here's how it could impact you:

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

• Pedestrians and bicyclists will have full access across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the eastbound side throughout construction.

Drivers
Commonwealth Avenue

• Commonwealth Avenue (between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square) will be closed to vehicular through traffic (local access only) from 7 p.m. on July 26 to 5 a.m. on August 11.

• See the “Commonwealth Avenue Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.

Boston University (BU) Bridge

• The BU Bridge will be closed to vehicular and bus traffic from 7 p.m. on July 26, to 5 a.m. on August 11. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and bicyclists only.
• See the “Boston University (BU) Bridge Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.

I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike)

• MassDOT will conduct a “dry run” of the I-90 traffic logistics the weekend of June 1-3. I-90 eastbound and westbound will be reduced to 2 lanes in each direction between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass from 9 p.m. on June 1, to 5 a.m. on June 3. The I-90 eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed this entire period. The I-90 westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

• From 9 p.m., on July 27, to 5 a.m., on August 6, I-90 (between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston) will have no more than two lanes open in each direction during peak hours.

• I-90 in this area will be reduced to one lane in each direction at various times during off-peak, weekend, and weekday overnight hours.

• The I-90 eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed during this entire period.

• The I-90 westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

• I-90 will fully restored to four lanes in both directions at 5:00 a.m., on August 6.

• See the “I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour” on the Traffic Management page.

Memorial Drive

• MassDOT has requested that the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) allow vehicular traffic on Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Sunday, July 29, and Sunday, August 5, in order to minimize impacts on local roadways and allow for safe and reliable travel throughout the area.

MBTA Green B Line

• The Green B Line will be replaced with shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street Stations from 5 a.m. on July 27, to 5 a.m., on August 11. The MBTA will be providing regular service updates to customers.

MBTA Commuter Rail

• The Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line will operate regular service on weekdays.

• On the weeks of July 28-29 and August 4-5, bus shuttles will replace Commuter Rail service in this area. Details regarding these bus diversions are being finalized.

MBTA Bus

• MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from their normal routes from 7 p.m. on July 26, to 5 a.m. on August 11. These detours are expanded from the 2017 detour routes due to the closure of the Boston University Bridge this summer to all vehicles including MBTA buses.

• The Route 57 Bus will operate its normal route and will not make outbound stops in the construction area.

• See the “2018 MBTA CT2 and 47 Bus Detour Map” on the Traffic Management page.

Amtrak

• Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited Line will be replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Albany, NY for the weekends of July 28-29 and August 4-5.

For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to your Free neighborhood Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Previously on Patch:

Comm. Ave. Bridge Construction: 90 Minutes Extra

Comm. Ave. Bridge Closure: 3 Meetings You Should Know

Comm Ave Construction? Green Line Shut Down

Image: Courtesy MassDOT