Rte. 93 Bridge Project Update: Salem Street July 15-18

Seven Route 93 North Bridges Complete; Crews to Begin on Southbound Side this Weekend

A new highway bridge, left, is clearly visible next to the old bridge, right. Construction crews have completed work on the northbound side of seven Route 93 bridges in Medford and will begin work on the southbound side this weekend.

Work crews have completed the replacement of the seven bridges on I-93 North and will commence the first weekend of bridge replacements on I-93 South in Medford beginning on Friday, July 15th at 8:00 PM and continuing through Monday, July 18th at 5:00 AM. This weekend’s locations involve the bridges on I-93 South over Route 60 (Salem Street)

Throughout the course of the weekend, traffic on I-93 will be limited to two lanes in each direction over a 6-mile segment between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) in Somerville and Exit 36 (Montvale Avenue) in Stoneham. Traffic on I-93 South will be directed through a median crossover near Spot Pond at the Stoneham/Medford line and then travel in counter-flow operation on the northbound barrel of the highway before traveling through a second median crossover near the Medford/Somerville line. I-93 directional traffic will be separated by a moveable “zipper lane” barrier. Access to and from many of the ramps on I-93 South in this area will be restricted.

The $98.1 million project to replace these fourteen bridge superstructures in Medford is funded through the Patrick-Murray Administration’s historic Accelerated Bridge Program, a $3 billion recovery effort to reduce the Commonwealth’s backlog of structurally-deficient bridges.

For more information or to sign up to receive future updates and schedule information, visit the project’s website at www.mass.gov/massdot/93fast14.

The following lane and ramp closures are scheduled:

Route I-93 Northbound

– On Friday July 15th I-93 North will be restricted to two lanes at Exit 29 (Route 28/38 – Somerville/Everett) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 PM with a second lane closed shortly thereafter to initiate the installation of the zipper lane and median crossovers for activation by 10:00 PM. I-93 North will remain restricted to two travel lanes from Exit 29 to Exit 34 (Route 28 North) until 5:00 AM Monday, July 18th.

– Traffic on I-93 North will utilize the right two travel lanes. Traffic on I-93 South will travel in the adjacent left lanes, separated by the zipper barrier. The shoulder lane on I-93 North will be restricted to use by emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.

– All of the entrance and exit ramps on I-93 North between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square/ Charlestown) and Exit 34 (Route 28 North/Main Street) will remain open.

Route I-93 Southbound

– On Friday July 15th, I-93 South will be restricted to two lanes south of Exit 35 (Winchester Highlands/Melrose) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 PM with a second lane closed shortly thereafter to initiate the installation of the zipper lane and median crossovers for activation by 10:00 PM. I-93 South will remain restricted to two lanes from Exit 35 to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) until 5:00 AM Monday, July 18th.

– Through traffic on I-93 South will be directed through the median crossover near Spot Pond at the Stoneham/Medford line and then travel in counter-flow operation on the northbound side of the highway, separated from I-93 North traffic by the zipper barrier, before traveling through a second median crossover near the Medford/Somerville line. No shoulder lane will be available for traffic travelling on I-93 South within the 4.5-mile zipper lane.

– Immediately prior to the northern crossover, a local traffic lane will be provided on I-93 South to provide access to Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) only. Drivers with 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 four 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.

Traffic is expected to be heavy throughout the duration of the weekend, particularly during daytime and early evening hours. MassDOT strongly recommends drivers that do not have a destination in the Medford/Downtown Boston area use alternate routes [I-495, I-95 (Route 128), Route 1 and I-90] to avoid the construction area.

Local Roadways & Waterways

– Route 60 (Salem Street) under I-93 will be closed to through traffic from Friday, July 15th at 6:00 PM through Monday, July 18th at 5:00 AM. East of I-93, Route 60 (Salem Street) will be open to local traffic only between I-93 and Route 28 (Fellsway). The on-ramp to I-93 northbound will remain open. Drivers seeking to access Route 60, west of I-93, will be directed to use Route 28 (Fellsway) South to Riverside Avenue west and follow posted detour signing. West of I-93, drivers seeking to access Route 60, east of I-93, will be directed to use Riverside Avenue east to Route 28 (Fellsway) North and follow posted detour signing.

– Brookside Parkway will be closed south of Water Street. Drivers seeking to access Route 60 east or west will be directed to use Water Street to Oakland Street 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 Riverside Avenue will experience traffic congestion on Friday evening and throughout the daytime/early evening hours on Saturday and Sunday. MassDOT and the Massachusetts State Police request that motorists adhere to travel lane markings and yellow and red traffic signal displays to avoid blocking these intersections. Failure to follow this guidance will add to congestion and limit the ability of the traffic signals at these locations to operate effectively.

Local traffic on Route 28 (Fellsway) and surrounding roadways is expected to be heavy throughout the duration of the weekend, particularly during daytime and early evening hours. MassDOT strongly recommends drivers plan ahead and use the posted detour routes and/or public transportation whenever possible to reduce additional congestion.

MassDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time for their trips and to reduce speed and use extreme caution when traveling through or near all work zones.

– Information from MassDOT