LO N G F E L LO W
B R I D G E
R E H A B I L I TAT I O N P R O J E C T
BRIDGING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE
September 2015
The PROJECT
MassDOT’s Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project began in July 2013. In
the first stage of construction, MassDOT closed the upstream side of the
bridge to all modes of travel to begin demolition and rehabilitation. During
construction, MassDOT is maintaining bike and pedestrian travel and MBTA
Red Line service across the bridge at all times. One lane of vehicle travel
is maintained for Boston-bound traffic. Cambridge-bound vehicles use the
detour route from Charles Circle to Storrow Drive and Leverett Circle to reach
Monsignor O’Brien Highway/Route 28.
The historic bridge is a vital link between Boston and Cambridge, making
important regional connections and contributing to the Charles River Basin
Historic District. The rehabilitation will address the bridge’s current structural
deficiencies, upgrade its structural capacity, and bring it up to modern
code, including improving multi-modal access and bridge-to-city-street
connections to meet accessibility guidelines. The repairs and modifications
will be consistent with the historic character of the bridge and comply with
environmental standards.
Please visit the website to learn about construction phases, traffic management, and
other details, including a brief history of the bridge at
www.mass.gov/massdot/longfellowbridge
Construction Progress
This complex project must meet historic preservation
requirements and MassDOT’s commitment to maintain
public use of the bridge and the navigation channels below.
The project has encountered a unique set of challenges
resulting in delays, such as unforeseen issues with the
condition of the structure.
The majority of rehabilitation, demolition, and reconstruction
activities are currently taking place along the Boston-bound
side of the bridge; however, the contractor has advanced
work originally planned for later phases where possible to
accelerate the schedule. These activities include: removing
concrete sidewalk and deck slabs; removing granite
stairways and walls; installing new steel elements; and
blasting, priming, and painting steel that will remain in place.
Deck removal and replacement using gantry cranes are
progressing from Cambridge toward Boston, with Spans 2
and 1 on the Boston side over Storrow Drive to complete.
On August 17, 2015, the contractor began reassembling the
restored granite blocks on the upstream “Salt and Pepper”
towers. This is an activity that was advanced in the schedule.
To comply with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, the project is required to, among
other things, maintain the existing arches and use riveted
steel (a construction process no longer in use) on portions
of the bridge visible to the public. As a main artery between
Cambridge and Boston, the project is required to maintain
one vehicle lane, two bike lanes, MBTA Red Line service,
and pedestrian and handicap access across the bridge
throughout construction. Though necessary to avoid
more significant traffic impacts, such requirements limited
opportunities to mitigate construction delays.
A brief description of Stage 1 construction progress is
outlined below.
■■ Reconstruction
■■ Removal
■■ Repair
of 11 out of 12 piers and abutments.
of all 12 spans down to the arches.
steel for 11 out of 12 spans.
■■ Installation
■■ Placement
of structural steel for 8 out of 12 spans.
of concrete for 7 out of 12 spans.
In consultation with MassDOT, the contractor has identified
several strategies to accelerate construction to the extent
possible. An updated project schedule is on page 3. The
contractor is:
■■ Purchasing
a second gantry crane, which delivers
and removes materials from the topside of the
bridge;
Bridging the Past and the Future
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The contractor purchased a second gantry crane to deliver and remove materials from the topside of the Longfellow Bridge
to accelerate construction.
■■ Installing
50% more Safway Staging under the
bridge to increase workspace;
■■ Adding
two barges: one for painting and one for
the demolition and reinstallation of the “Salt and
Pepper” towers;
■■ Resequencing
Stage 1 activities to mitigate impacts
from steel-related delays;
■■ Increasing
work shifts, overtime, and Saturday
construction; and
■■ Performing
work originally scheduled for future
stages now, such as removing the downstream
towers for repair, pier reconstruction, and arch
cleaning and painting.
Construction Process
Construction hours are generally 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with
nighttime shift work scheduled Monday thru Friday. On a few
weekends each year, the MBTA Red Line trains are replaced
by buses between Kendall Square/MIT Station and Park Street
Station. The contractor complies with local noise regulations
and monitors and minimizes dust and other construction
impacts as much as possible. Materials are delivered using
existing truck routes and staged on the bridge. Measures
protect the Charles River as required by state and local
permits. Tree and landscaping removal have been coordinated
with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
and cities of Boston and Cambridge. Restoration will occur
once construction is complete.
Salt & Pepper Towers
In line with speeding up the schedule, the “Salt and Pepper”
towers restoration is occurring along with the roadway
construction. The process of restoring the towers began in
March 2014 with the dismantling of the upstream towers.
The restoration process was repeated with the downstream
towers beginning in summer 2015. The granite blocks were
barged to another location for cleaning and repairs, and the
piers’ interior concrete lining and structural supports were
demolished. The reinstallation of the upstream towers’ granite
blocks began on August 17, 2015. New reinforcing steel and
cast-in-place concrete walls were constructed within each pier
to support the towers seismically. With each layer of granite
blocks in place, new concrete lining is poured to further
support the towers. To learn more about the reassembly
process, visit the project website and check out the “Salt and
Pepper” Tower Reinstallation Process fact sheet.
The last granite blocks of the downstream “Salt and Pepper”
towers were removed in July 2015 for restoration.
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Bridging the Past and the Future
The project consists of four construction phases, with six traffic
stages to complete the construction.
■■ Phase
1 (the current phase) reconstructs the Bostonbound roadway and sidewalks.
■■ Phase
2 will reconstruct the Boston-bound MBTA
Red Line track.
■■ Phase
3 will reconstruct the Cambridge-bound
MBTA Red Line track.
■■ Phase
4 will reconstruct the Cambridge-bound
roadway and sidewalk.
Detail work will include restoring or replicating the
bridge’s ornate pedestrian railings, refurbishing pedestrian
accommodations, and designing a new bridge lighting
system. This work will be completed at the end of the project.
MassDOT is also constructing a new pedestrian bridge linking
The Esplanade with Charles Circle. Areas on the riverbanks
disturbed by construction will be carefully landscaped to tie the
bridge into its historic setting.
Boston and Cambridge Conservation Commissions, and the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
(MassDEP).
Public Involvement and Outreach
MassDOT keeps stakeholders informed and involved with
the project using a variety of methods. MassDOT and the
contractor provide frequent updates to keep the community
and bridge users informed about traffic management plans,
access changes, project updates, and progress. Timely
updates posted on the project website and distributed
through email help stakeholders plan their travel to minimize
inconvenience. The program will continue to host public
meetings and stakeholder briefings, provide fact sheets and
construction updates, website and social media updates,
and email advisories. Please see the Contact Us section for
the website address to sign up for traffic and construction
updates and advisories. A dedicated project hotline and
email address are also listed to contact the project team with
questions or concerns.
Traffic Management
In the current construction phase, 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 detoured using a signed
route from Charles Circle to Land Boulevard via Leverett
Circle and Monsignor O’Brien Highway/Route 28 (Charles
River Dam Road). MBTA Red Line service will run throughout
the project and navigation channels for boats remain open
under the bridge.
Environmental and Historic Resources
The project team will continue to review key historical,
architectural, and environmental aspects of the rehabilitation.
This includes coordinating with Section 106 Consulting Parties
(Massachusetts Historical Commission, Boston Landmarks
Commission, and Cambridge Historical Commission), the
A comparison between the new steel and concrete deck for the
upstream side of the bridge (on the left) and the old, rusted steel
under the MBTA Red Line (on the right).
Contact Us
Upcoming Schedule
Full Beneficial Use (open to public)
December 2018
Substantial Completion
August 2019
Full Project Completion
October 2019
For more information about the project, visit the project
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.
View construction progress photos at www.flickr.com/photos/
massdot/albums/72157648218104253
Smart phone users, scan this code
to access the project website.
Bridging the Past and the Future
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