Cochituate Rail Trail To Temporarily Close

NATICK, MA — Thinking of going for a run or hike through the Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick? You might want to think again. Starting Monday, July 8, the Cochituate Rail Trail will be closed from Chrysler Road to Natick Center while crews remove vegetation before to construction this fall. Signs and barriers will be in place as a reminder.

A construction contract was awarded by MassDOT to MAS Building and Bridge and construction will begin in the fall of 2019, and is scheduled to be completed by early 2021. The improvement project targets 2.4 miles of the trail and includes a pedestrian bridge over Route 9. Part of the trail in Natick will be closed until mid-August to prepare for utility work and bridge/trail construction.

Construction is funded with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funding. The Cochituate Rail Trail south of Willow Street is closed to the public and is reserved for MBTA and official use.