News

A guide to the Comm. Ave. bridge project and its traffic impacts

Tuesday, July 31 traffic impacts:

BOSTON — I-90 (Mass Pike): Two lanes of travel in each direction through 7 p.m.

I-90 eastbound: Reduced to one lane of travel after 7 p.m.

Commonwealth Avenue section and Boston University Bridge closed to vehicles

MBTA Geen Line B trolleys replaced for several stations by bus service

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead as the final phase of the Commonwealth Avenue bridge project gets underway.

Workers began taking down the western half of the bridge on July 26 as they work to replace it.

Traffic will be closed on the westbound side for more than two weeks, until August 11.

MassDOT replaced the eastbound side of the bridge last year ahead of schedule, but say they anticipate this year's project to be done on time.

“I don’t expect we're going to see that same type of opportunity arise this time. Our timeline is a little tighter, and we don’t have that size crane this year," MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said.

The project is already causing major backups on Comm. Ave. and the streets around it on the Pike and the MBTA.

MORE: Comm Ave Bridge replacement to trigger heavy traffic

The full upcoming travel impacts will be as follows:

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Pedestrians and bicyclists will have access across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the eastbound side throughout construction.

Download the Blue Bikes app on the App Store or Google Play to find a station near you. For a limited time, Blue Bikes is dropping their Single Trip Pass to $1 from July 26 - August 11, available in the Blue Bikes app.

MassDOT is also partnering with the City of Boston to provide an additional temporary Blue Bikes station at Silber Way on Commonwealth Ave during the construction period.

For more information, visit bluebikes.com.

Drivers

Commonwealth Avenue

Commonwealth Avenue (between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square) will be closed to vehicular through traffic (local access only) from 7:00 p.m. on July 26 to 5:00 a.m. on August 11.

Access through this area will be maintained for local businesses and customers, residents, MBTA buses, emergency services, pedestrians, and bicyclists during this time.

Through Vehicle Traffic Traveling East and West on Commonwealth Ave (7:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling east, Commonwealth Ave will be closed to through traffic east of Harvard Ave. Take a left at Harvard Ave, then a right onto Cambridge Street over the bridge towards Cambridge, taking an immediate right onto Memorial Drive/Route 3. Take a right onto Massachusetts Ave/Route 2A to return to Commonwealth Ave over the bridge. Traveling west, Commonwealth Ave will be closed to through traffic west of Brookline Ave. Veer left onto Beacon Street and take a right onto Harvard Street to return to Commonwealth Ave.

Truck Traffic Traveling East on Commonwealth Ave (7:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling east on Commonwealth Ave, take a left at Harvard Ave, then a right onto Cambridge Street over the bridge towards Cambridge, continuing onto River Street. Take a right onto Massachusetts Ave/Route 2A, continuing over the bridge, to return to Commonwealth Ave.

University Road Southbound Exit from Storrow Drive Closure (7:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling east on Storrow Drive, continue past the University Road exit to the Charlesgate West exit and take a right onto Beacon Street.

Carlton Street Closure (7:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling north on Park Drive, at the intersection of Mountfort Street and Carlton Street, continue straight on Lenox Street and take a right on Essex Street. Take a right back onto Mountfort Street.

Boston University (BU) Bridge

The BU Bridge will be closed to vehicular and bus traffic from 7:00 p.m. on July 26, to 5:00 a.m. on August 11. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and bicyclists only.

Though Traffic Traveling North and South on BU Bridge (7:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling north on Park Drive, take a right onto Beacon Street and then a right onto Commonwealth Ave. Take a left onto Charlesgate West, then a left onto Storrow Drive westbound. Continue onto Soldier’s Field Road and exit onto Cambridge Street over the bridge, taking an immediate right onto Memorial Drive/Route 3 to continue towards Brookline Street. Traveling south on Brookline Street to destinations to the west, take a right onto Memorial Drive/Route 3 and take a left onto the Soldier’s Field Road Bridge, taking an immediate left to remain on Soldier’s Field Road eastbound. Take a right onto Cambridge Street and a left on Harvard Avenue to continue to Commonwealth Ave. Traveling south on Brookline Street to destinations to the east, take a left on Memorial Drive/Route 3, a right on Massachusetts Ave/Route 2A, and a right on Beacon Street to continue to Commonwealth Ave.

Truck Traffic Traveling North and South on BU Bridge (9:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 11):

Traveling north on Park Drive, take a right onto Beacon Street and then a right onto Commonwealth Ave. Take a left onto Massachusetts Ave/Route 2A and continue into Cambridge. Traveling south on Brookline Street to destinations to the east, take a left on Waverly Street and continue onto Albany Street. Take a right at Massachusetts Ave/Route 2A to continue over the bridge into Boston.

I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike)

From 9:00 p.m., on July 27, to 5:00 a.m., on August 6, I-90 (between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston) will have no more than two lanes open in each direction during peak hours.

I-90 in this area will be further reduced to one lane in each direction at various times during off-peak, weekend, and weekday overnight hours.

The I-90 eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed during this entire period.

The I-90 westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

I-90 will be fully restored to four lanes in both directions at 5:00 a.m., on August 6.

See the “I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour” on the Traffic Management page.

Memorial Drive

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will allow vehicular traffic on Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Sunday, July 29, and Sunday, August 5, in order to minimize impacts on local roadways and allow for safe and reliable travel throughout the area.

DCR will add an additional Sunday closure of Memorial Drive in Cambridge this fall meaning vehicular traffic will not be allowed between Western Avenue and Mount Auburn Street from 11:00 a.m., to 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, November 18.

Sumner Tunnel

The additional “swing lane” on Route 1A southbound at the Sumner Tunnel will have extended hours so that it is opened at 3 p.m., on Friday, July 27, and will remain open through 5 a.m., Monday, July 30.

The swing lane will then be opened daily from 1 p.m., through 10 p.m., between Monday, July 30, and Thursday, August 2.

The swing lane will also be opened at1 p.m., Friday, August 3, and will remain open through 5 a.m., Monday, August 6.

I-93 HOV Lane

The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will be open during the normal morning hours of 5 a.m., through 10 a.m., from Monday, July 30, through Friday, August 3.

The HOV lane will open early for the afternoon commute at 2 p.m., from Monday, July 30, through Thursday, August 2, and will then open at 1 p.m., on Friday, August 3.

MBTA Green B Line

The Green B Line will be replaced with shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street Stations from 5:00 a.m. on July 27, to 5:00 a.m., on August 11. The MBTA will be providing regular service updates to customers.

MBTA Commuter Rail

The Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line will operate regular service on weekdays.

On the weekends of July 28-29 and August 4-5, bus shuttles will replace Commuter Rail service in this area.

Free bus shuttles will replace Commuter Rail train service between Framingham and Wellesley Farms. After Wellesley Farms, the shuttle bus will then continue nonstop to Riverside, where riders can connect to the Green D Line.

In addition to the local shuttles, express shuttle service will be available between Framingham and Riverside.

MBTA Bus

MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from their normal routes from 7:00 p.m. on July 26, to 5:00 a.m. on August 11. These detours are expanded from the 2017 detour routes due to the closure of the Boston University Bridge this summer to all vehicles including MBTA buses.

The Route 57 Bus will operate its normal route and will not make outbound stops in the construction area.

Amtrak

Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited Line will be replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Albany, NY for the weekends of July 28-29 and August 4-5.

MORE: Check the latest traffic on Boston25.com/traffic

MassDOT asks for the community’s help to reduce traffic volume in the area as much as possible.

MassDOT encourages the public to consider:

REDUCE

– Work with employers on flex time or telecommuting as an alternative to travel during this time period. Take your summer vacations during this time and avoid traveling through the area if at all possible

REROUTE

– Plan alternative travel routes around this construction area during the times mentioned.

REMODE

– Consider using alternate modes of transportation which may include public transit, walking or biking.