The Driver's Guide to this Weekend's Route 128 Detours

Originally published Nov. 3, 2016.

NEEDHAM, MA — If you have to drive on Interstate 95 through Needham this weekend, expect a lot of traffic and some detours.

From Nov. 4-6, the Department of Transportation will conduct the demolition of the existing Highland Avenue Bridge that crosses over the highway. Due to the time needed and safety concerns, MassDOT will be conducting detours throughout the weekend. Drivers are advised to give themselves extra time to travel and use alternative routes if possible.

Here's what you need to know about the bridge demolition:

Updated Demolition Times

• Friday 8 p.m.-Saturday 12 p.m. - East side of the bridge (over I-95 Northbound)
• Saturday 12-8 p.m. - Project team members will transition from the detour of the I-95 Northbound mainline to the I-95 Southbound mainline. It is expected that there will be a period of time during this transition during where both sides of the highway are detoured. Appropriate signage and police details will be present to guide traffic to the detoured routes.
• Saturday 8 p.m.-Sunday 3 p.m. - West side of the bridge (over I-95 Southbound)

Detour Routes

Here's a look at the Highland Avenue detours:

Highland Avenue Local Traffic

All local access to homes and businesses along Highland Avenue will be maintained throughout demolition activities.

Eastbound through traffic on Highland Avenue will be detoured as follows:

• Turn right on Hunting Road
• Turn left on Kendrick Street
• Turn left on 4th Avenue
• Turn left on 2nd Avenue
• Turn right on Highland Avenue
• Westbound through traffic on Highland Avenue will follow the same route in reverse.
• The temporary connection via the Highland ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization.

Northbound I-95 (Route 128) to Maintain Mainline Traffic

Northbound Traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19A
• Cross Highland Avenue and connect to the northbound on-ramp via a temporary paved connection
• Reenter the mainline via the northbound on-ramp
• Southbound traffic will operate normally.
• The temporary connection via the ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization.

Highland Avenue East to I-95 Northbound

Traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Turn left onto Webster Avenue (at the Needham Fire Station)
• Turn left on Central Avenue
• Take the second right onto Cedar Street
• Turn right on Worcester Street to merge onto Route 9 Eastbound
• Use the right lane to take the on-ramp for I-95 North towards Peabody

Needham Street (Becomes Highland Avenue) West to I-95

Northbound traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Turn right on Oak Street (before the Charles River)
• Turn left onto Chestnut Street
• Proceed under the Route 9 overpass
• Take the immediate left for the on-ramp for Route 9 Westbound
• Take the second right for the on-ramp to I-95 Northbound (toward Peabody)
• Southbound traffic will take the same route to reach Route 9 Westbound
• Take the on-ramp for I-95 Southbound (toward Canton), which follows the I-95 North exit

I-95 Northbound to Highland East or West

• All local access to homes and businesses along Highland Avenue will be maintained
• throughout demolition activities.
• Traffic will be detoured as follows:
• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19A
• For traffic headed toward Highland Avenue Westbound, take a left turn at the offramp, cross the new Highland Avenue Bridge, and proceed west.
• For traffic headed toward Highland Avenue Eastbound, take a right turn at the off-ramp and proceed east.
• The temporary connection via the ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization.

I-95 Southbound to Highland Avenue East

Traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19B
• Cross Highland Avenue and connect to the southbound on-ramp via a temporary
• paved connection
• Reenter the mainline via the southbound on-ramp
• Proceed to Great Plain Avenue/Needham Street, exit 18 (2.6 miles) - this is the
• longest detour as a result of the closure.
• Turn right onto Great Plain Avenue
• Take the first left at the on ramp for I-95 Northbound (toward Peabody)
• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19A, and proceed right onto Highland Avenue
• The temporary connection via the ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization

Detour Routes Associated with the South Bound Rt. 128 (I-95SB) Bridge Demolition

Highland Avenue Local Traffic

All local access to homes and businesses along Highland Avenue will be maintained throughout demolition activities.

Eastbound through traffic on Highland Avenue will be detoured as follows:

• Turn right on Hunting Road
• Turn left on Kendrick Street
• Turn left on 4th Avenue
• Turn left on 2nd Avenue
• Turn right on Highland Avenue
• Westbound through traffic on Highland Avenue will follow the same route in reverse.

Southbound I-95 (Route 128) to Maintain Mainline Traffic

Southbound Traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19B
• Cross Highland Avenue and connect to the southbound on-ramp via a temporary paved connection
• Reenter the mainline via the southbound on-ramp
• Northbound traffic will operate normally.
• The temporary connection via the ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization.

Needham Street (Becomes Highland Avenue) East of I-95 to I-95

Traffic will be detoured as follows:

• Turn right on Oak Street (before the Charles River)
• Turn left on Chestnut Street
• Proceed under the Route 9 overpass
• Take the immediate left for the on-ramp for Route 9 Westbound
• Take the appropriate on-ramp for I-95 Northbound or Southbound

Highland Avenue West to I-95

Highland Avenue traffic West of I-95 will be detoured as follows:

• Turn left on Webster Street
• Turn left on Central Avenue
• Take the second right onto Cedar Street
• Turn right onto Worcester Street to merge onto Route 9 Eastbound
• Take the appropriate on-ramp for I-95 Northbound or Southbound

95 Northbound exit to Highland Avenue West

• Traffic will be detoured as follows:
• Exit the mainline at Highland Avenue, exit 19A
• Cross Highland Avenue and connect to the northbound on-ramp via a temporary-paved connection
• Reenter the mainline via the northbound on-ramp
• Proceed to the Route 9 interchange, and exit the mainline at exit 20B, Route 9 Westbound
• Once you cross under the Overpass, immediately take the on-ramp for I-95 Southbound (toward Canton)
• Take exit 19B for Highland Avenue Westbound.
• The temporary connection via the Highland ramps will operate as a free-flow condition without signalization.

>>>Click here for more information about the project

Image Credit: Dan Libon

Alex Newman contributed to this report.