MassDOT To Fix 8 Bridges At Mass Pike/I-95 Interchange In Newton

NEWTON, MA — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will be investing $230 million dollars to replace and rehabilitate eight bridges and install more sound barriers at the Mass Pike/I-95 interchange on the Newton and Weston line, said Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in a community update Thursday.

Fuller said design plans for a five-phase project are 25 percent complete. The work will take approximately five to six years, with construction set to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2027.

"Our Engineering, DPW and Planning teams will be in close contact with MassDOT as they move from the 25% to 100% designs,” said Fuller. We’ll make sure to get your feedback, advocate for Newtonians, and understand the impact on the Charles River and the trails as well."

According to MassDOT Project Manager Valerie Kilduff, the bridges over the Charles River, the Worcester Mainline commuter rail tracks, and on ramps within the interchange itself are currently safe, but their conditions are deteriorating. Five of the eight bridges will be replaced, one will be rehabilitated, and two will have their superstructure replaced.

The project also proposes increasing vertical clearance for freight movement under the bridges, improving seismic resiliency in the case of an earthquake, and improving roadway safety by adding adequate acceleration and deceleration lanes and wider shoulders.

Noise barriers are also proposed for the westbound side of the Mass Pike between Woodland Road and the Charles River and for a short portion of the north side of the ramp from I-95 North to the Mass Pike. Eastbound, noise barriers are proposed between Charles Street and Woodland Road.

MassDOT plans to keep three lanes of traffic open during the entire construction period, with the exception of two weekends when traffic will be cut to one lane, and will work with other building projects in the area to coordinate construction schedules and traffic impacts.

To learn more about the project, residents can join MassDOT's virtual community meeting on Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. To sign up for email updates about the project, click here. Comments and questions can be sent to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us.