Traffic Warning: I-93 Construction to Shut Riverside Ave

Another weekend, another bridge to be replaced.

This weekend, the "93Fast14" project continues, as the bridge that carries I-93 southbound over Riverside Avenue in Medford will be replaced. Work begins on Friday, Aug. 5 at 7:45 p.m. and continues through Monday, Aug. 8 at 5 a.m.

The construction will narrow I-93 to two lanes each way from Exit 28 in Somerville to Exit 36 in Stoneham and will close Riverside Avenue under I-93.

Riverside Avenue traffic heading east from the Medford Square area will be detoured to Route 60 East to Route 28 South. 

Riverside Avenue traffic east of I-93 will be detoured either to Route 28 North to Route 60 West or to use Route 28 South to Route 16 West to Main Street North.

As of this week, 12 of 14 bridge replacements on I-93 are complete.

The project aims to replace 14 superstructures on I-93 in Medford by Labor Day weekend. The work is done primarily over weekends.

Below is a list of this weekend's work and detours. See the attached PDFs for maps showing the location of the work and detours.

Route I-93 Detour Information

Throughout the course of the weekend, traffic on I-93 will be limited to two lanes in each direction over a 6-mile segment between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) in Somerville and Exit 36 (Montvale Avenue) in Stoneham. Traffic on I-93 South will be directed through a median crossover near Spot Pond at the Stoneham/Medford line. Access to and from many of the ramps on I-93 South in this area will be restricted.
 
Route I-93 Northbound

• On Friday, Aug. 5, I-93 North will be restricted to two lanes at Exit 29 (Route 28/38 – Somerville/Everett) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 p.m. with a second lane closed shortly after. I-93 North will remain restricted to two travel lanes from Exit 29 to Exit 34 (Route 28 North) until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8. 

• Traffic on I-93 North will utilize the right two travel lanes. The shoulder lane on I-93 North will be restricted to use by emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.  The use of the breakdown lane for travel will be allowed on I-93 North between the on ramp from Exit 33 (Route 28 – Roosevelt Circle) and to just prior to Exit 34 (Route 28 North). 

• All of the entrance and exit ramps on I-93 North between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square/Charlestown) and Exit 34 (Route 28 North/Main Street) will remain open, with the exception of the entrance ramp from Routes 28/38 at Exit 29.  Drivers affected by the closure of the on ramp to I-93 North at Exit 29 will be directed to use Route 28 North (Fellsway) and follow posted detour signing to access I-93 North at Exit 33 (Route 28 - Roosevelt Circle)

Route I-93 Southbound

• On Friday, Aug. 5, I-93 South will be restricted to two lanes south of Exit 35 (Winchester Highlands/Melrose) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 p.m. with a second lane closed shortly after.  I-93 South will remain restricted to two lanes from Exit 35 to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8

• Through traffic on I-93 South will be directed through the median crossover near Spot Pond at the Stoneham/Medford line. No shoulder lane will be available for traffic travelling on I-93 South within the majority of the 4.5-mile zipper lane.

• Immediately prior to the northern crossover, a local traffic lane will be provided on I-93 South to provide access to Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) only. Drivers with local destinations via Exit 32 (Route 60/Salem Street - Medford Square/Malden); Exit 31 (Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway) or Exit 30 (Route 38) should enter the local traffic lane and take Exit 33 and follow posted detour signing. 

• The on ramps to I-93 South from Route 28 (Fellsway West) at Exit 34; Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway at Exit 33; and Route 60 (Salem Street) at Exit 32 will be closed. Local traffic can access I-93 South using Route 16 East (Mystic Valley Parkway) at Exit 31. Traffic entering I-93 South at Exit 31 will travel within a single lane and will merge with I-93 South through traffic exiting the median crossover near the Medford/Somerville line. I-93 South will be restored to three lanes prior to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square).  

• The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 South that starts north of Exit 28 will be closed throughout the weekend. 

Local Road Closures and Detours 

• Riverside Avenue under I-93 will be closed to through traffic from Friday, Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. through Monday, Aug. 8 at 5 a.m. West of I-93, local traffic seeking access to the east side of I-93 via Riverside Avenue will be directed to Route 60 East to Route 28 South (Fellsway).  East of I-93, local traffic seeking access to the west side of I-93 via Riverside Avenue will be directed to either use Route 28 North (Fellsway) to Route 60 West or to use Route 28 South (Fellsway) to Route 16 West to Main Street North. 

• Route 28 (Fellsway) will be used as the primary local detour route for the duration of the weekend. Traffic signals along the corridor have been modified to address the increased traffic demands to the extent possible.  

• In the event of a safety concern with traffic congestion at intersections along Route 28(Fellsway) or at other critical intersections impacted by detour traffic, State and local police details will provide traffic control to keep vehicular traffic moving and to provide safe crossings for bicycles and pedestrians. 

• Wellington Circle (Route 28 (Fellsway) at Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway)) and the intersection of Route 28 (Fellsway) with Route 60 will experience traffic congestion on Friday evening and throughout the daytime/early evening hours on Saturday and  Sunday. MassDOT and the Massachusetts State Police request that drivers adhere to travel lane markings and yellow and red traffic signal displays to avoid blocking these intersections.  Failure to follow this guidance will add to congestion and limit the ability of the traffic signals at these locations to operate effectively.  

Local traffic on Route 28 (Fellsway), Route 60 between I-93 and Route 28 (Fellsway) and surrounding roadways is expected to be extremely heavy throughout the duration of the weekend, particularly during daytime and early evening hours. MassDOT strongly recommends drivers plan ahead and use the posted detour routes and/or public transportation whenever possible to reduce additional congestion.