MassDOT Breaks Ground On Major Natick Bridge Replacement Project

NATICK, MA — In a ceremony Monday in Natick, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver and Senate President Karen Spilka broke ground on the Route 27 over Route 9 bridge replacement and interchange improvements project.

This project will replace the existing structurally deficient Route 27 bridge over Route 9 and reconfigure the interchange to be a modified Diverging Diamond that will increase safety, improve mobility, and reduce congestion, officials said.

That diamond pattern will be the first of its kind in the region, officials said.

"The Route 27 over Route 9 bridge replacement and interchange improvements project is a transformative investment in Natick’s future, and we are proud to work with MassDOT and our legislative partners to advance this effort," said Natick Town Administrator James Errickson.

The project will proceed in staged construction phases, with an estimated completion date of summer 2030. The project cost is approximately $99 million, with McCourt Construction and Jacobs Engineering as the Design-Build contractor.

It will also construct a network of shared-use paths for use by pedestrians and cyclists, which will provide connectivity to schools, transit, major employers and to the Cochituate Rail Trail.

That's thanks in large part to the new DDI pattern, officials said.

The interchange is a type of intersection where traffic crosses to the opposite side of the road, allowing for more efficient left turns and reducing conflict points, and providing improved safety and mobility compared to other interchange designs.

The design for this project is considered a Modified Diverging Diamond Interchange, featuring unique characteristics such as three separated bridges, traffic calming and road curvature, landscaping and a more compact footprint.

"This project will not only make our roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists—it will also strengthen community connections and help keep Natick a great place to live, work, and thrive," said Spilka.

More information about the project can be found here.