The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has approved a $205 million project to replace the North Washington Street Bridge, also called the Charlestown Bridge, along Boston’s historic Freedom Trail.
The 118-year-old steel-truss bridge, which carries 44,000 drivers daily over the Charles River, has been structurally deficient for 16 years in an area known for significant transit delays, and requires up to $2 million annually for maintenance by the city.
J.F. White, which recently won the $177 million base contract award, will begin construction this fall on the project. Work will be carried out in phases, with lane closures to accommodate the demolition of the existing structure while crews construct sections of the new bridge. Completion is expected by fall 2023.
The design goals for the project are improved functionality and travel reliability. In addition to increasing intersection safety and capability and improving the navigation channel, the 1,100-ft-long replacement structure will include two lanes of traffic in each direction, dedicated bike lanes, 12-ft-wide sidewalks, observational sidewalk build-outs, curbside plantings and other architectural features.
The city is expected to pick up at least $14.9 million of the project’s cost, with the rest coming from federal and state funds.
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Source: Engineering News-Record
