N. Washington St Bridge Over Boston Inner Harbor To Be Replaced

BOSTON, MA — The North Washington Street Bridge - the bridge that carries cars, buses and shuttles over the Boston Inner Harbor between the North End and Charlestown - is coming down.

This spring, prep work in the area will begin, but the real construction (and lane reduction) won't start until the fall. MassDOT expects the construction on the 118-year-old bridge to last five years.

“With this project, we will fully replace this City of Boston-owned bridge, improving the motor vehicle lanes but just as importantly, improving the bridge to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit users,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.

Although officials say the bridge is still currently safe for travel, they say it requires between $1 million and $2 million in repairs each year. So on Monday, March 19, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors approved a contract for approximately $177 million to replace it.

The work includes replacing the existing structurally deficient bridge, providing multi-modal amenities including widened sidewalks, separated bicycle lanes, and bus rapid transit lanes, increasing intersection safety and capability, and improving the navigation channel. Officials expect construction to be completed by fall 2023.

How will it impact users?

The bridge links MBTA bus network providing passage for several Haymarket destined bus routes from the north including the 92, 93,111, and 426 bus routes.

MassDOT officials said they and the MBTA have been in close coordination and "every effort" is being made to minimize the travel time delays for these routes.

In general, throughout this construction project, motorists will have access to two travel lanes in the inbound direction toward Boston, and one outbound lane toward Charlestown, and pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained, according to a press release. That is, except for a month in 2019 during which crews will demolish the main truss span meaning there can be just one lane in each direction.

Got an opinion? Two public meetings will be held in April, one in the North End and one in Charlestown:

Thursday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m.

• Bunker Hill Knights of Columbus 545 Medford Street, Charlestown

Thursday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m.

• Nazzaro Community Center, 30 North Bennett Street, Boston

For more information on the North Washington Street Bridge Replacement Project: The website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/NorthWashingtonStreetBridgeReplacement.aspx

(Graphic of the final condition of the new North Washington Street Bridge that will be constructed by MassDOT, courtesy)