Stage 3 Construction Rescheduled for February 11, 2016

MassDOT’s contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli (WSC), anticipates setting up the final configuration of Stage 3 by Thursday, February 11, 2016. The shift of the tracks to their temporary positions was completed over a series of Red Line Weekend Diversions. The relocation of the large barrier fence along the tracks will be completed by February 1. The installation of the upstream “Salt and Pepper” towers, hampered by the cold temperatures of mid-January, is complete with the last stones installed this week. Now that the towers are complete, removal of the staging will begin this weekend, followed by the placement of concrete sidewalks and curbs adjacent to the towers. Once the sidewalks and curbs are in place, the final sections of temporary fence needed for the new upstream bicycle lane can be installed. WSC anticipates the final set up for the upstream bicycle lane will be complete by the end of the day on Thursday, February 11, 2016, when inbound and outbound bike travel is shifted. Stage 3 work will take approximately eight months to complete. View the Stage 3 Graphic for travel space configuration along the Longfellow Bridge.

Travel Configuration
All bike travel, both inbound and outbound, will be shifted to the sidewalk on the upstream side of the bridge on February 11. During this stage, inbound vehicles and all pedestrians will continue to use the downstream side of the bridge.

Red Line Configuration
The construction of the temporary outbound Red Line track (called a “shoo-fly”) on the roadway is complete. The outbound trains were shifted to the shoo-fly track and the inbound trains were shifted to the old outbound track in mid-January. This shift allows WSC to rehabilitate the bridge under the current location of the MBTA inbound tracks.

The Cambridge-bound detour remains in place using the existing signed route from Charles Circle following Charles Street to Leverett Circle, Monsignor O’Brien Highway (Route 28)/Charles River Dam Road and Land Boulevard.

For more information, visit the project website at www.mass.gov/massdot/longfellowbridge. For questions or issues and concerns related to construction, please call the project hotline at 617-519-9892 or email [email protected]. View construction progress photos on MassDOT’s Longfellow Bridge Flickr Album.

MassDOT’s contractor, WSC, encourages drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to minimize delays. Those traveling through the area should expect delays and should reduce speed and use caution. The schedule for this major infrastructure project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.