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MassDOT to remove Longfellow's plastic bollards for winter

BOSTON — The plastic bollards separating the bike lane from the traffic lane on the Longfellow Bridge will be removed for winter snow removal, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced Monday.

Removing the 'flex posts' will make snow removal easier for plows coming across the bridge so both lanes can be used in the winter, according to MassDOT.

Officials say they reviewed plans for winter management of the new traffic configuration on the bridge and decided to remove the posts until spring.

The posts will be removed beginning overnight Sunday, December 16.

MassDOT laid out the following winter storm maintenance plans:

Snow removal on the Longfellow Bridge is being carried out through a partnership between MassDOT and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). During winter weather events, DCR crews will plow and clear the bridge as operations and conditions necessitate, and snow will be removed from approximately one half of the width of the sidewalks. After the storm has concluded, MassDOT and DCR crews will then close the bridge to traffic or implement lane closures in order to remove snow and ice from the vehicular lane, bicycle lane and sidewalk using front end loaders and other equipment.