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What You Need To Know: The Comm. Ave. Bridge Construction

Contractors work on replacing the eastbound side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on July 31, 2017. Work on the westbound side will begin July 26, 2018. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Contractors work on replacing the eastbound side of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on July 31, 2017. Work on the westbound side will begin July 26, 2018. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Like last year, the state is preparing for one of the final phases of its massive construction job to replace the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge that stretches over the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Repairs to the westbound side of the bridge — and road closures — are scheduled to start on Thursday, July 26, and finish on Saturday, Aug. 11. Workers will be on the job 24 hours a day for those two weeks.

Here's what will be affected, and how. The times below could change, depending on how construction goes:

Comm. Ave. (Between Packard's Corner And Kenmore Square)

  • Both sides will be closed to through traffic from Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m., to Saturday, Aug. 11., at 5 a.m.
  • Local traffic, plus public transportation, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to access the road. There will be no access for private vehicles between St. Paul and St. Mary's streets.
  • The Green B line, from Babcock Street to Blandford Street, will be closed from Friday, July 27, at 5 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 11, at 5 a.m., in both directions. Shuttle buses will replace the trolley; accessibility for those with disabilities will be provided at all points.

Here's what MassDOT recommends for detours if you're driving:

The cars and trucks detour maps for the Commonwealth Avenue road work. The work will span from July 26 to Aug. 11. (Courtesy MassDOT)
The cars and trucks detour maps for the Commonwealth Avenue road work. The work will span from July 26 to Aug. 11. (Courtesy MassDOT)

BU Bridge

  • The bridge will be closed to all  vehicle traffic from Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. to Saturday, Aug. 11, at 5 a.m.
  • Pedestrians and cyclists can continue to use the bridge.

Here's what MassDOT recommends for detours if you're driving:

The BU Bridge will be closed for construction work from July 26 to Aug. 11. Here's what MassDOT recommends for drivers seeking detours. (Courtesy MassDOT)
The BU Bridge will be closed for construction work from July 26 to Aug. 11. Here's what MassDOT recommends for drivers seeking detours. (Courtesy MassDOT)

Public Transportation

  • Bus routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from their normal routes from Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. to Saturday, Aug. 11., at 5 a.m.
  • As mentioned above, the Green B line will run shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street.
  • For two weekends — July 28-29 and Aug. 4-5 — on the Framingham/Worcester commuter line, shuttle buses will replace service between Framingham and Wellesley Farms. The buses will continue nonstop to Riverside, where riders can connect to the Green D line. There will also be express buses from Framingham directly to Riverside available.
  • For two weekends — July 28-29 and Aug. 4-5 — shuttle buses will replace service on Amtrak from Albany, New York, to Boston, with stops in Springfield and Worcester.

The MBTA has more information about detours and delays available on its website.

Mass. Pike

  • From Friday, July 27, at 9 p.m. to Monday, Aug. 6, at 5 a.m., there will be lane reductions between the Allston interchange and the Beacon Street overpass.
  • During peak hours, two lanes in each direction will be closed. More lanes may be closed at other times.
  • The eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed for the entire construction period. The westbound off-ramp, Route 20/Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

Here's what MassDOT recommends for detours if you're driving:

How the construction will affect the Mass. Pike. (Courtesy MassDOT)
How the construction will affect the Mass. Pike. (Courtesy MassDOT)

More extensive information on all closures and updates are available at the MassDOT website. Check out the progress on the project with this timelapse from Boston University.

Related:

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Meghan B. Kelly Multi-platform Editor
Meghan is the multi-platform editor for WBUR.

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