3 Bridges Under Construction this Weekend

Webster Street, Mystic River Overpasses Under Construction July 8-11

Three bridges that carry Route 93 through Medford will be under construction from 8:00PM on Friday, July 8 through 5:00AM on Monday, July 11. According to the MassDOT, the bridge on I-93 North over Webster Street (pictured above) and the approach spans on the bridge on I-93 North over the Mystic River will be replaced. So far five out of the fourteen bridges slated for work this summer have been replaced and after this weekend more than half of the bridges will be completed. Next weekend, construction crews will begin work on the southbound sides of the bridges, with the Salem Street overpass up next.

According to Christine Mizioch of the MassDOT Design Build Program team, the fourteen bridges that are being replaced are around the same age and have similar problems, prompting the state to replace them all at once. Mizioch said what would normally take five years is being done in one weekend, with bridges being demolished on Friday night and new pre-made bridge decking in place by the Monday morning rush hour.

“This will become the new normal for us,” said Mizioch, referring to the use of innovative technology and much-shortened time frames for projects.

The bridge replacement project, impressive in its scope and timeline, has caused delays on Medford roads and every weekend Route 93 is down to just two lanes in each direction between Somerville and Stoneham to accommodate work crews. The final weekend of construction is August 12-15. For more information on the entire project see http://93fast14.dot.state.ma.us/.

– InsideMedford.com