I-93 Bridge Replacement Project Begins Friday

The first phase of a program to rapidly replace 14 structures along I-93 in Medford means traffic will be limited to two lanes each way on the interstate this weekend.

Starting at 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, traffic on I-93 will be limited to two lanes in each direction between Exit 28 in Somerville and Exit 36 in Stoneham as crews replace the northbound bridge over Riverside Avenue, according to a release from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The Department of Transportation is strongly advising travellers to seek alternate routes, such as I-495, I-90, I-95 and Route 1.

A median crossover will be used near the Somerville/Medford line, then travel through a second crossover near Spot Pond in Stoneham, the state's transportation blog said.

Traffic will be separated with a "zipper lane" barrier.

Referred to by MassDOT as the "Fast14," the $98.1 million project aims to replace 14 small bridges by the end of the summer. Each weekend, a different bridge will be replace. Up next weekend -- the I-93 northbound bridge over Salem Street.

Read more about the project at the Fast14 website.