Upcoming Tobin Bridge Work and Your Drive

A contractor has already begun work on the Tobin Bridge, and work will ramp up over the coming weeks. State Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty's office sent over the following explanation of the work being conducted and how it may impact your commute.

All work scheduled to be completed this year will be on the Charlestown side of the bridge.

If the contractor is ahead of schedule towards the tail end of the season (ending around November 15, 2012) the contractor will begin staging on the Chelsea side for work during the next painting season (beginning around April 15, 2013).

In order to accelerate the three-year schedule to minimize impacts to the community, work will be performed on a six-day work week with a 12hr shift.

In past bridge painting contracts, contractors phased work to paint each side and level of the bridge individually. Due to the fully encapsulating containment, work will be done simultaneously on the north bound and south bound levels on both the East and West sides of the bridge. This approach will increase the efficiency of painting, cleaning and the containment, while reducing the duration of the project.

The following is a synopsis of work to be performed for the next (2‐3) months:

Week of 4/16

• The traffic control contractor will begin setting up signage on and around the bridge for the upcoming traffic pattern changes. The contractor will begin utilizing night time closures to begin installing rigging cables along the bridge main span. There will be minimal impact on the traffic on and around the bridge during these operations. Work will be phased to minimize traffic load and not impede rush hour traffic in either direction. Work will begin on the NB lower level then proceed on the upper SB level.

• The contractor will be working underneath the bridge via man‐lifts to secure outriggers and cables. Work on the bridge during this time will be restricted to the Charlestown side only. The contractor may begin storing cables and material on the bridge at the NB, lower level along the bump out locations.

Week of 4/23

• Anticipated community meetings to illustrate the less invasive and accelerated approach mentioned above. The contractor will continue utilizing night time closures to install rigging cables along the bridge main span.

Week of 4/30

• The contractor will begin setting up the full‐time lane restrictions from three travel lanes to two travel lanes utilizing reflectorized drums for this stage so that motorists may become accustomed to the traffic pattern changes and in order to complete the rigging cable installation and begin the installation of shielding to protect drivers from any work to be performed.

Week of 5/7

• Work to install the shielding will continue. Shielding will be installed throughout the length of the project to limit any possible inconvenience to the public. Shielding installation will continue for approximately 6‐8 weeks.

Week of 5/14

• The Contractor will begin installing barriers along both sides of the bridge and install side shielding around the two traffic lanes to provide additional safety to the public. Once the barriers are in place the traffic pattern will not change throughout the painting season.

Week of 5/21

• The Contractor will begin setting up a fully encapsulating containment system inside the existing shielding providing redundancy to ensure none of the removed paint escapes. This containment system will be monitored daily to ensure safety to the public and environmental compliance from the date it is installed to when it is removed.

Week of 5/29

• Once the containment has been fully installed, tested and approved the contractor may begin sandblasting off the existing paint, repairing necessary steel bridge appurtenances, and painting. During the paint removal process the bridge, containment, and surrounding areas will be monitored to ensure safety to the workers and public.