Longfellow Bridge to Close in August for Deck Demolition

The Longfellow Bridge, which connects Cambridge and Boston over the Charles River, will be closed for much of the month of August in order to allow crews a chance to demolish the existing tower deck at the Pier 6 portion of the bridge, MassDOT says.

MassDOT’s contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV, will periodically close the Longfellow Bridge to all vehicular traffic between August 1 and August 21. The road closures are said to be necessary due to safety concerns regarding the demolition.

Scheduled demolition activities include saw cutting, hammering, and loading of trucks.

Boston-bound vehicles are urged to use the inbound detour via 3rd Street or Memorial Drive to Charles River Dam Road.

Due to height restrictions on Memorial Drive, trucks and buses should use the 3rd Street route only. Bike and pedestrian traffic will be maintained across the bridge at all times.

MassDOT will implement Longfellow Bridge closures as follows:

Saturday, August 1

• From 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic

Friday, August 7 to Monday, August 10

• From 11:00 PM on August 7 to 5:00 AM on August 10
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the weekend

Monday, August 10 to Thursday, August 13

• From 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM each night
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic each night
• The bridge will be reopened to traffic the following mornings at 5:00 AM

Friday, August 14 to Monday, August 17

• From 11:00 PM on August 14 to 5:00 AM on August 17
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the weekend

Monday, August 17 to Friday, August 21

• From 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM each night
• Longfellow Bridge closed to vehicular traffic each night
• The bridge will be reopened to traffic the following mornings at 5:00 AM

Additionally, The Boston Globe reports construction on the bridge will continue through 2018.

In 2013, upgrades began to improve the bridge’s steel-and-granite structure. The ongoing upgrades have caused for steady traffic jams.

Photo Credit: Mass.gov