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
APR I L 2013
The PROJECT
MassDOT is undertaking the Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation, a major
project of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Accelerated Bridge Program.
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 repair and rehabilitation of this significant bridge will
require temporary modifications to travel patterns for vehicles, pedestrians
and bicyclists and the MBTA Red Line, but the result will be a safe and
distinctive icon ready for many more years of service.
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 for project details and a brief history of the bridge at
www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/LongfellowBridge.aspx
Longfellow Bridge Enters Final Design/Build Phase
On February 27, 2013, the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors awarded
White-Skanska-Consigli J.V. (WSC) a design/build (D/B)
contract to rehabilitate the Longfellow Bridge. In D/B, final
design and construction occur concurrently, with some
elements of the project released for construction as design
continues on others. This process will keep the project
advancing at a steady pace.
During the D/B construction, MassDOT will maintain
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Red
Line service, minimize impacts on the traveling public,
local businesses and the boating community as much
as possible, and protect the environment. Configuration
of the rehabilitated bridge was the result of extensive
work completed by MassDOT and the Longfellow Bridge
Rehabilitation Task Force (a group of 40 stakeholders).
Widened and accessible sidewalks, bicycle lanes and other
features will reflect the more multi-modal use of the bridge
today. A new pedestrian bridge crossing Storrow Drive
will also be constructed. Access to the Esplanade will be
maintained during construction via the existing bridge.
Construction will include detours of the outbound (Cambridge
bound) traffic to facilitate construction. There will be Red Line
weekend shutdowns and other impacts. Final details are
being worked out and will be shared with the public as soon
as possible. Emergency, bicycle and pedestrian access will be
maintained on the bridge. Implementing detours will shorten
the construction, enhance safety and keep as much traffic
as possible – vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian and emergency –
moving over the bridge.
Final Design
Final Design started with a notice to WSC to begin work.
Many of the elements of the design are already in place and
have had significant public review. The final bridge design
on the inbound (to Boston) side will feature an 8-foot, 6-inch
wide pedestrian sidewalk; a 5-foot, 6-inch wide bicycle
lane; and two 11-foot wide vehicle lanes. The outbound
(to Cambridge) side will feature a 13-foot wide pedestrian
sidewalk; 6-foot wide bicycle lane; and one 12-foot wide
vehicle lane. The two MBTA Red Line trains will operate in
the existing 27-foot wide rail right-of-way (see figure 3 on page
2). The design will be developed in eight packages, and it will
be completed in late March 2014. Because this is a design/
build project, however, some construction work will begin
before all of the design packages are complete.
Bridging the Past and the Future
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Sequencing and
Cross Sections
Proposed Sequencing
General Overview
Figure 1
Proposed Traffic Management Stage 1
Figure 2
Bridge Complete/Final Traffic Pattern
Figure 3
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Bridging the Past and the Future
Construction Activities June 2013 to August 2014
Construction
The phased construction will require traffic diversions and
occasional weekend MBTA Red Line shutdowns. MassDOT
will implement a comprehensive traffic information program
to prepare all bridge users for changes as the work proceeds.
Outbound traffic will be diverted for some period of time
during construction. Emergency, bicycle and pedestrian
access and one inbound travel lane will be maintained
on the bridge. Construction will take place in four phases
that require six traffic stages, and it will be completed in
November 2016.
During construction, the structural steel elements
supporting the bridge deck will be upgraded and the
abutments will be modified slightly so the sidewalk
approaches meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
accessibility guidelines. The project includes restoring or
replicating the bridge’s ornate pedestrian railings, cleaning
and conserving its masonry elements and designing
an appropriate new bridge lighting system. Areas on
the riverbanks disturbed by the project will be carefully
landscaped to tie the bridge into its historic setting.
Preliminary work must be performed in May 2013 to prepare
the surrounding roadway and intersections
for the outbound detour. This work will
include borings and other investigations,
Proposed alternative
relocating curbing and installing a new
traffic detour routes.
traffic signal at Charles Circle. Major
construction will begin in June 2013.
impacts as much as possible. Materials will be delivered using
existing truck routes and staged on the bridge. Measures to
protect the Charles River will be implemented as required by
state and local permits. Tree and landscaping removal will
be coordinated with the Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR) and cities of Boston and Cambridge.
Traffic Management
The Longfellow Bridge carries the MBTA Red Line and
thousands of vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists each day.
Due to the compressed construction period and to protect
the bridge’s users and construction workers, traffic will
have to be shifted as work progresses.
MassDOT expects traffic detours to take place, possibly
via other nearby bridges. The contractor will be required
to maintain emergency, bicycle and pedestrian access
and one inbound travel lane on the bridge at all times.
Six traffic stages are necessary for construction. Stage
1 reflects the draft preliminary design and will be
implemented with Boston and Cambridge approval (see
figure 2 on page 2). In this stage, the inbound side will be
closed for demolition and reconstruction. Two bicycle
lanes, a pedestrian sidewalk and one vehicle lane will be
The D/B team has proposed the following
phasing for construction (see figure 1 on
left). One goal of the plan is to minimize
the number of changes affecting those
who use the bridge.
■■ Phase
1 will reconstruct the inbound
sidewalks and roadway.
■■ Phase
2 will reconstruct the inbound
MBTA Red Line track.
■■ Phase
3 will reconstruct the
outbound MBTA Red Line track.
■■ Phase
4 will reconstruct the
outbound sidewalk and roadway.
The D/B team has proposed an aggressive schedule to
reduce impacts. MassDOT, Boston and Cambridge are
reviewing the schedule, phasing and other elements of the
work. Construction hours are proposed for 7 AM to 11 PM,
Monday through Saturday, once major Phase 1 construction
begins. Occasionally, there will be overnight work shifts to
take advantage of the nightly MBTA shutdown.
The contractor will comply with local noise regulations
and will monitor and minimize dust and other construction
Design/Build Schedule
Preliminary preparation
April 2013
Traffic Stage 1 implemented
June 2013 to August 2014
Major construction begins
June 2013
Construction completed
November 2016
Bridging the Past and the Future
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© Rosales + Partners
provided on the outbound side. Red Line trains will remain
in the existing location. Once the details of the subsequent
stages are approved by the cities, MassDOT will notify the
public. An animation of the construction and proposed
stages is posted on the website at www.massdot.state.
ma.us/charlesriverbridges/LongfellowBridge.aspx.
MBTA Red Line Diversions
Work in the Red Line right-of-way will take place during
non-service hours, from 1 AM to 5 AM, except for
weekends, when major elements of the construction
require diversions. The D/B team was able to reduce the
number of Red Line weekend diversions from 82 in the
preliminary design to just 25. During weekend diversions,
inbound and outbound buses will replace Red Line trains
on the bridge. The diversion schedule, which must be
approved by the MBTA, avoids major holidays, important
weekends and TD Garden and other events.
The D/B team will work with Boston Transportation
Department and Cambridge Traffic Department to
accommodate weekday holidays and events such as the
4th of July. The preliminary schedule includes five weekend
diversions between spring and fall 2013, seven between
winter and fall 2014, 12 between winter and fall 2015 and
one between winter and summer 2016. The D/B team will
coordinate with the MBTA to notify riders of the diversions.
Environmental and Historic Resources
The project team will continue to review key historical,
architectural and environmental aspects of the
rehabilitation, including coordinating with Section 106
Consulting Parties (Massachusetts Historical Commission,
Boston Landmarks Commission and Cambridge Historical
Commission), the Boston and Cambridge Conservation
Commissions and the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
Public Involvement and Outreach
MassDOT will seek stakeholder input and support to
finalize elements of the design within the constraints of
the contract. MassDOT and its D/B team will introduce
traffic management plans to stakeholders during final
design to gather feedback before they are finalized.
During construction, MassDOT will provide frequent
updates to keep the community and bridge users informed
about traffic management plans, project updates, news
and progress. Frequent and timely updates will help
stakeholders plan their travel to minimize inconvenience.
The program will include public meetings and stakeholder
briefings, fact sheets and construction updates, website
updates, email blasts and social media updates. Please
see the Contact Us section for the website address to get
traffic and construction updates and sign up for the project
email list for meeting notices, updates and advisories. A
dedicated hotline and email address will be established for
questions, comments and to report issues.
Contact Us
For more information about the project, questions or
comments, or to be added to the project email and US Mail
distribution lists, please contact:
Stephanie Boundy
Accelerated Bridge Program Public Outreach Coordinator
Tel: 857-368-8904
Email: stephanie.boundy@state.ma.us
My Kaywa QR-Code
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbrid...
MassDOT will notify the public when the dedicated phone number
and email for the project are established.
Smart phone users, scan this code
to access the project website.
http://kaywa.me/CHkE2
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Bridging the Past and the Future
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