Traffic Warning: I-93 Construction Will Cause Weekend Congestion at Wellington

Continued bridge replacement work in I-93 will result in highway lane closures and detours around Fellsway and Valley Street this weekend.

The construction will shut on-ramps to I-93 South at Exits 32, 33 and 34. It was also close Valley Street's I-93 underpass, and is expected to cause heavy congestion at Wellington Circle.

MassDOT expects delays and recommends drivers seek alternate routes (See Maps to the right).

Over the course of the last six weekends, MassDOT has demolished and replaced nine of the fourteen bridges that are a part of the 93Fast14 bridge replacement project on I-93. All of the bridge replacements will be complete by the end of August.

This weekend’s work locations involve the bridge on I-93 South over Route 28 South (Fellsway)/Valley Street in Medford and the center span on the bridge on I-93 South over the Mystic River. Work begins on Friday at 8 p.m. and continues through Monday at 5 a.m.

Route I-93 Detour Information

Route I-93 Southbound 

• A local traffic lane will be provided on I-93 South to provide access to Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) only. There will be no access to Route 28 South (Fellsway), east of I-93. Drivers with local destinations on Route 28 South (Fellsway) via Exit 33; and local destinations via Exit 32 (Route 60/Salem Street - Medford Square/Malden); Exit 31 (Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway) or Exit 30 (Route 38) should enter the local traffic lane and use Exit 33 and follow posted detour signing.

• The on ramps to I-93 South from Route 28 (Fellsway West) at Exit 34; Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway at Exit 33; and Route 60 (Salem Street) at Exit 32 will be closed. Local traffic can access I-93 South using (Route 16 East (Mystic Valley Parkway) at Exit 31. Traffic entering I-93 South at Exit 31 will travel within a single lane and will merge with I-93 South through traffic exiting the median crossover near the Medford/Stoneham line. I-93 South will be restored to three lanes prior to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square).   

• The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 South that starts north of Exit 28 will be closed throughout the weekend.

Local Road Closures and Detours

• Route 28 South (Fellsway) and Valley Street under I-93 will be closed to through traffic from Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m. West of I-93, drivers exiting I-93 South via Exit 33; or traveling on Forest Street North or on Route 28 South (Fellsway) seeking access to I-93 South or to Route 28 South (Fellsway) east of I-93 will be directed to travel around the Roosevelt Circle rotary to Route 28 North (Fellsway) and follow posted detour signing. 

• Route 28 (Fellsway) will be used as the primary local detour route for the duration of the weekend. Traffic signals along the corridor have been modified to address the increased traffic demands to the extent possible.

• In the event of a safety concern with traffic congestion at intersections along Route 28 (Fellsway) or at other critical intersections impacted by detour traffic, State and local police details will provide traffic control to keep vehicular traffic moving and to provide safe crossings for bicycles and pedestrians. 

• Wellington Circle (Route 28 (Fellsway) at Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) and the intersection of Route 28 (Fellsway) with Fellsway East will experience traffic congestion on Friday evening and throughout the daytime/early evening hours on Saturday and Sunday.