Major construction on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Longfellow
Bridge Rehabilitation Project began in July 2013 when the Boston-bound side of the bridge was closed to all modes of travel for demolition. One lane of traffic carries vehicles into Boston using the former
Cambridge-bound, downstream side; a bike lane in each direction is provided on the roadway; and pedestrians continue to use the sidewalk. Cambridge-bound traffic is being detoured using a signed route from Charles Circle to Land Boulevard using Leverett Circle and Monsignor O’Brien
Highway/Route 28 (Charles River Dam Road).
Construction hours are generally 7 AM to 3:30 PM, with nighttime work scheduled as needed. On a few weekends each year, the MBTA Red Line trains are replaced by buses between Kendall
Square/MIT Station and Park Street Station, with a stop at Charles/MGH Station. Vehicles other than
MBTA buses are detoured during these diversion weekends. The contractor has requested five weekends in fall 2014, and they will be announced when approved by the MBTA. Project details and all detour maps can be found on the website at www.mass.gov/massdot/longfellowbridge . Email advisories are sent notifying stakeholders, including media outlets, about detours, lane closures and major construction milestones, so be sure to sign up on the website to receive them.
The following is a summary of work completed to date, a description of ongoing construction and a look at upcoming activities that will take place this spring. All work reported is for demolition and rehabilitation of the Boston-bound side of the bridge.
Completed Work:
•
Pedestrian railing removed and mock up for paint color choice completed
•
Arch girders blasted and primed for repairs on Cambridge side of bridge – Span 11 (5 of 12 girders) and Spans 10 and 9 (8 of 12 girders)
•
Granite parapet and stairs removed at
Cambridge abutment stairway and all piers on the Boston-bound side
•
Trees removed and/or transplanted to prepare for Mugar Way off-ramp re-alignment
•
Upstream MBTA Red Line construction fence installed
•
Pier 6 tower removed
•
Concrete caps on upstream side of the west and Cambridge abutments placed
•
Sidewalk and deck removed over upstream side of
Pier 6 tower removed to sidewalk level
Spans 12 and 13 (over westbound sidewalk and Memorial Drive)
•
Upstream sidewalk and deck removed over Span 11 (over eastbound Memorial Drive)
•
Gantry crane installed (Cambridge side) from Cambridge abutment to Pier 9
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•
Pier 12 pile load test for proof of ultimate capacity (adjacent to westbound Memorial Drive)
Ongoing Work:
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Spans 6, 7, 8 and 9 arch girder containment setup, blast and prime for repairs (Cambridge side)
•
Utility relocation, excavation and concrete barrier placement and paving for new Mugar Way offramp construction
•
Pier 5 tower scaffolding placement (upstream Boston side)
•
Seismic reinforcement at interior of Cambridge abutment and Piers 10, 9 and 8
Upcoming Work:
•
Pier 5 tower dismantling (upstream Boston side)
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Sidewalk over Span 10 removal
•
Gantry crane supports installation to Pier 7
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Steel girder and concrete deck placement at Span 12 (over westbound Memorial Drive)
•
Steel girder repairs and column refurbishing at Span 11
•
Seismic reinforcement in piers continuing toward Boston side of bridge
•
Drilled shafts installation at Pier 6 for tower foundation support
For more information on the project, visit the website at www.mass.gov/massdot/longfellowbridge .
For questions or to report issues related to construction, please call the project hotline at 617-519-9892 or email longfellowbridge@state.ma.us
.
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