The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT) announced last week that the Winthrop Avenue Bridge, Route 145, will be closed in both directions during the weekends of May 29-June 1 and June 5-8.
In addition, Route 145 will be open but with lane restrictions Monday-Friday, June 1-5. The closures and lane restrictions will allow crews to proceed with bridge demolition and replacement work.
The Winthrop Avenue Bridge and Route 145 closures and restrictions are as follows:
Weekend Shutdown Schedule
Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m. – Monday, June 1, at 5 a.m.
Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. – Monday, June 8, at 5 a.m.
Weekday Route 145 Lane Restriction
Monday, June 1, 5 a.m.- Friday, June 5, 8 p.m.
On Friday, May 29, at approximately 8 p.m., both vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be re-routed around via Rt. 16 and Rt. 1A. Pedestrians will be re-routed up and down Hichborn Street and through Rt. 1A and Rt. 16. Traffic police details will be assigned to assist with these detours. The affected section of the Commuter Rail will be closed. MBTA will modify its bus routes through the work zone to follow the detour route. During this time, the existing westbound bridge truss, deck and abutments will be demolished. The contractor will begin installation of the new truss during this first weekend shutdown.
On Monday, June 1, at 5 a.m., the roadway will re-open with reduced capacity. In the area of the bridge, Route 145 will be reduced from 3 travel lanes in each direction to one travel lane in each direction for a five-day period. Both travel lanes will be operating on the existing eastbound Bridge. Existing traffic signal system phases will be modified during this period to attempt to minimize adverse traffic impacts. During this time, the contractor will continue with bridge construction and roadway work on the westbound side; all construction operations will be protected with temporary concrete barrier.
At the end of the five-day period, the bridge will again be shut down for the weekend starting Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. using the detour. During this time, the contractor will continue bridge and roadway construction on the new westbound bridge.
On Monday, June 8, Route 145 will re-open with two travel lanes in each direction. There are no anticipated roadway closures that would require the detouring of traffic from June 8 to Labor Day due to restrictions on Railroad closures and increased traffic volumes from Beach traffic. Through this time, the contractor will be coordinating utility relocation and continuing construction operations using temporary lane closures during the standard hours of operation.
Stage 2 will also require two weekend shutdowns of the bridge to complete construction of the project. These closures are scheduled for late Fall 2015 and additional advisories will be issued in advance of that work.
Final paving and landscape work is expected to occur in spring 2016.
