Green Line Extension Prep Work Begins

– Allison Goldsberry

Preparatory work for the first phase of the Green Line extension began in early April.

The work will consist of driving piles to support excavation work and installing plans for earth retention near the Harvard Street Railroad Bridge.

Barletta Heavy Division, Inc. is the contractor for Phase 1 of the MBTA Green Line Extension Project. The first phase of construction includes the reconstruction of two bridges, the Harvard Street Railroad Bridge in Medford and the Medford Street Railroad Bridge in Somerville. Both bridges will be rebuilt to accommodate the existing Commuter Rail tracks and the new Green Line tracks.

A building owned by the MBTA will also be torn down to clear a way for the eventual extension of Green Line tracks from Lechmere Station. The building is located at 21 Water Street in East Cambridge, according to the MassDOT, and will be torn down “later in 2013.”

The first phase of construction will cost $12.9 million.

Photos by Ken Krause