Route 79/Braga Bridge
Improvements Project
SEPTEMBER 2013
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Design/Build Team Comes Onboard
After several years of reviewing a number
of alternative concepts, MassDOT and a
Stakeholder Task Force chose a project
approach that best meets transportation
needs and the community’s goals. The Route
79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project will
provide major enhancements to the Route
79 interchange with I-195 in Fall River. The
project includes demolishing and rebuilding
several ramps, constructing a new surface
roadway and enhancing intersections to
improve local connections to the waterfront
and I-195. The project will advance safety,
access and aesthetics near the historic City
Pier and Battleship Cove by removing the
Route 79 elevated sections and replacing
them with a new surface roadway that
combines Route 79 and Davol Street. The
nine “spaghetti ramps” connecting Route
79 and I-195 will be rebuilt, with two new
roadways — Water Street Connector and
Milliken Connector — linking the waterfront
and I-195. Pedestrian and bicycle safety will
also be enhanced through the addition of
three signalized intersections on Route 79/
Davol Street, wider sidewalks, bike lanes and
a shared-use path. The project also includes
structural steel repairs and cleaning and
painting of the Braga Bridge, which carries
I-195 over the Taunton River.
On June 19, 2013, the MassDOT Board of Directors
approved the award of a $197 million design/build
contract to a joint venture to complete the Route
79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project. The joint
venture of Barletta Heavy/O&G was the successful
bidder. The interchange improvement is one of the
five largest projects of the Patrick Administration’s
Accelerated Bridge Program, a $3 billion effort to
reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges
in Massachusetts.
Major construction will begin in fall 2013 and will
continue through September 2016. The work is being
managed as a design/build project (D/B), which
means that final design elements will be completed in
packages that will be released for construction as they
are reviewed and approved by MassDOT. Design/build
allows construction to begin almost immediately on
critical elements of the project.
MassDOT understands the importance of minimizing
construction impacts and maintaining access to
the waterfront for Fall River’s residents, businesses
and visitors, and minimizing impacts to the Town
of Somerset and surrounding communities in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The D/B team has
developed a traffic management plan to maintain
traffic movement during peak travel times. Local and
regional signs will alert drivers to changes in traffic
patterns. Traffic will be monitored on local roadways
to reduce impacts on the communities and local
businesses. Signs within the project area will indicate
Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project
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Route 79/Braga Bridge
Improvements Project
SEPTEMBER 2013
Getting Started
Under a separate construction contract, the Milliken
Boulevard bridge (over Pocasset Street) is receiving
a full deck replacement to enhance travel conditions
during the project. Similarly, temporary connecting
roads will be built in the first stage of the project to be
available for use as detour routes. Preliminary work
prior to the start of major construction includes borings
and test pits to confirm soil conditions and utility
locations before demolition begins. Trees and shrubs
will be removed within the right-of-way. A certified
arborist will monitor any tree removal, and restoration
will occur after construction is complete. The project
team includes landscape architects who developed a
restoration plan during the preliminary design phase.
The project will help meet the goal of reconnecting the city
to the waterfront.
that businesses are open during construction.
Access to key locations will be maintained at all
times, including Heritage State Park, Battleship
Cove, Gates of the City, Community Boating and
other attractions. MassDOT will reach out to city
officials and community groups to coordinate work
around major events and festivals.
MassDOT will hold public meetings before
major construction milestones and traffic
pattern shifts. Project updates, advisories
and meeting notices will be distributed using
email blasts, which include local and regional
press outlets and social media platforms.
Information materials will be available
in Spanish and Portuguese. MassDOT’s
outreach program will be a mix of traditional
and new media to reach as many people as
possible. See page 4 to get information on
the project website and learn how to sign up
for the email notices and construction and
traffic advisories.
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Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project
Major construction will take place in two phases:
(1) demolition and reconstruction of Route 79/138
in Phase 1 (fall 2013 to fall 2015); and (2) demolition
and reconstruction of the I-195 ramps in Phase 2
(fall 2015 to fall 2016). Work on the Braga Bridge,
including repairs and painting, will take place during
both phases.
Construction brings some inconvenience, including
detours and changes in regular travel routes.
MassDOT will provide advance notice of the project
phases, changes in routes and other information that
will impact the traveling public. Traffic advisories will be
posted regularly. Local and regional access provided
by Route 79 will be maintained at all times via alternate
routes or reduced lanes on Route 79. Regional through
traffic will be diverted to Route 24, I-195 and the
Veterans Memorial Bridge (Route 6). Detours for local
Route 79/Braga Bridge
Improvements Project
SEPTEMBER 2013
traffic will direct motorists to alternate roadways for
local access. Signs will indicate that all businesses
are open during construction, and access will be
maintained at all times for emergency vehicles,
visitors, customers and deliveries.
MassDOT and the D/B team realize the importance
of keeping traffic moving into and around the city
and continuing to welcome visitors to its historic
waterfront. Frequent updates will aim to make
travel as convenient as possible. The end result
of these temporary inconveniences will be a new,
safer and aesthetically pleasing roadway and ramp
system with better connections and options for
vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Untangling the Spaghetti Ramps
Signs, traffic barrels and roadway striping guide traffic through work
zones safely and efficiently.
a surface street that will combine Route 79 traffic with
The Route 79 viaduct and ramps in Fall River were
Route 138 and Davol Street traffic.
built in 1965 as part of the I-195 interchange with Route
79 near Battleship Cove. Time has taken a toll on the
MassDOT spent the next two years refining the
viaduct and ramps, which include 111 spans stretching
preferred alternative, studying the environmental
8,700 feet. Locally, the viaduct and interchange and its
impacts, and seeking input from the public and other
complex set of 11 bridges are known as the “spaghetti
stakeholders. The project will reach 75% design
ramps.” Residents, business owners and city officials
completion in 2014 and will be presented to the
would like to reconnect the city to its historic waterfront,
community at a public hearing.
which is now hidden behind this steel spaghetti. The
You can visit the project website (www.mass.gov/
condition of the infrastructure, and the opportunity to
massdot/route79project) to learn more about the
improve multimodal access and enhance economic
details of the project design.
development, made the Route 79/Braga Bridge
Improvements Project an excellent candidate
for the state’s Accelerated Bridge Program
Untangling the spaghetti ramps advances the project goal of improving safety.
(see page 4).
In 2009, a MassDOT Value Engineering
Study examined ways to improve the
“value” of the project and suggested
removing the Route 79 viaduct and
replacing it with an at-grade roadway that
would be combined with existing surface
streets. In January 2010, MassDOT
convened a task force of local and regional
stakeholders to examine alternatives to
address the I-195 interchange deficiencies,
including removing the viaduct.
In January 2011, after a study of 12
concepts, MassDOT chose one alternative
to best address the purpose and need for
the project: Remove elevated Route 79
south of Cedar Street and replace it with
Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project
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Route 79/Braga Bridge
Improvements Project
SEPTEMBER 2013
Accelerated Bridge Methods
MassDOT and the design/
build team are using
several accelerated bridge
construction techniques and alternative technical
concepts (ATCs) to complete the project as quickly
and efficiently as possible. The result will be cost
savings and fewer impacts on the communities.
Some of these approaches include using:
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Schedule
The design/build process releases some elements of
the project early that are critical to the schedule, so
construction can begin quickly. Construction will occur
in several areas during the same timeframe.
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Preliminary work begins (borings, soil testing, etc.) –
September 2013
Construction:
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Initial upgrades to Route 79 – fall 2013 to winter 2014
Precast concrete elements on bridges and
structures; Prefabricated elements on some ramps; and
Shorter ramp spans that require less excavation,
fewer and shallower substructure elements
and other measures that reduce long-term
maintenance costs.
For more information on the Commonwealth’s
Accelerated Bridge Program, visit the website at
www.mass.gov/acceleratedbridges.
Stay connected to MassDOT for transportation news
and updates!
www.mass.gov/massdot
Braga Bridge construction – fall 2013 to fall 2016
Stages 1A-1C and 2A-2B – winter 2014 to fall 2016
blog.mass.gov/transportation/
Design:
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75% design – fall 2014
www.twitter.com/massdot
Final design – spring 2015
www.facebook.com/massdotinfo
Learn More and Stay Tuned
To ask questions or let the project
team know about issues or concerns,
please contact us at:
route79project@state.ma.us
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781-774-0441 (hotline)
Route 79/Braga Bridge Improvements Project
To learn more about the project and sign
up for email updates and advisories,
visit the website at:
www.mass.gov/massdot/route79project