Bridge Work to Close Lanes, Cause Commuter Delays Through November

Construction will resume next week on the Tobin Bridge, possibly slowing the drive to and from Boston for Peabody commuters.

The three-year project began last spring and is in the second year. It is a steel preservation and painting job to rehabilitate the bridge that has been carrying traffic over the Mystic River since 1950, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Lanes will begin to be closed again during the day and night starting next week to install platforms along the bridge. Lanes will be closed on both the southbound side on the upperdeck and the northbound lane on the lower deck.

"Permanent lane restrictions will begin the week of April 8," the DOT said, and that arrangement will be in place through November..

The current schedule for work during the next month is shown below, subject to changes because of the weather.

The DOT provides updates on the work on its webpage.

Week of March 25 and April 1 

• The contractor will install platforms, rigging and touch-up work from last season
• Lane closures will take effect on both the northbound/lower deck and southbound/upper deck of the bridge

Week of April 8

• The contractor will begin to set up barrels to get motorists accustomed to the lane restrictions that will reduce the roadway from three lanes to two on both decks of the bridge
• The restriction will allow the contractor to complete the installation of rigging and shielding

Week of April 15 

• The contractor will begin installing barriers along both sides of the bridge and install side shielding around the two travel lanes to provide additional safety for the public
• 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
• 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

  Week of April 22

• 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