Project labor agreement signed to replace Boston's North Station bridge

A $1.2 billion project to replace a Depression-era drawbridge in the heart of Boston and create more than 15,000 jobs will be completed under the terms of a newly signed project labor agreement, Gov. Maura Healey announced Thursday.

“Today is a big deal,” Healey said at Ironworkers Local 7’s Union Hall before someone in the crowd interrupted her speech, shouting “Yeah it is!”

She was met with a standing ovation when she entered the union hall wearing jeans and carrying a cup of Dunkin. Healey was there to announce the new project labor agreement with Greater Boston Building Trades.

“Replacing the Draw One Bridge is one of the most important rail infrastructure projects in Massachusetts history,” Healey said. “This project represents the kind of investments we are making in Massachusetts — creating thousands of good jobs while rebuilding critical infrastructure that keeps our economy and transportation network moving.”

Draw One has been connecting Cambridge and Boston since 1931, the middle of the Great Depression. The bridge is responsible for transporting more than 11 million passengers per year from North Station to the Commuter Rail’s northern network as well as Amtrak’s Downeaster line, which runs up to Brunswick, Maine.

”When we talk about project labor agreements, it's important to know that project labor agreements do more than just deliver projects on time and on budget. They deliver real economic opportunity to people and families in our communities,” said Chaton Greene, Greater Boston Building Trades business agent. "Project labor agreements, in a world of ups and downs and unplanned surprises, means certainty. 
It means stability."

The project was originally expected to take eight years to complete, but is now set to be finished in about six and half years, Healey’s office said.

The labor agreement establishes consistent wages, safety standards and working conditions for both contractors and subcontractors. The agreement doesn’t prevent non-union contractors from bidding and all qualified firms may compete for the work, according to Healey’s office.

Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, agreed with Healey that "today is a great day. It's been a long time coming."

He rebuked doubts about project labor agreements causing projects to fall behind schedule of off budget.

"PLAs work," Callahan said. "They work for the state, they work for taxpayers, they work for end users in the private sector every day of the week."

Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng said the agreement is “invaluable” to the project’s success.

“It provides labor stability, harmony, and predictability for this highly complex, multi-year construction effort, which will replace two movable bridges dating back to 1931 while ensuring the MBTA can maintain active rail operations and service for the public,” he said.

In 2024, the federal government allocated $472.3 million for the project from National Infrastructure Project Assistance program, or MEGA, as part of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program. Eng said the award is largest the MBTA has received from the program and noted the project is “fully funded."

He said the state has planned to receive the federal grant in two parts. The first portion, encompassing approximately $283 million, has already been collected and the remaining $189 million is “in process,” Eng said.

The MBTA says the project is meant to bring the drawbridge to a “state of good repair and increase safety for riders” on commuter rail lines. The project includes adding a third moveable span to the drawbridge and increasing the number of tracks from four to six. Also, it would replace a control tower, connect tracks 11 and 12 to the existing network and make upgrades to tracks and signals.

The project is currently in procurement and contractor selection is pending, according to Healey’s office.

The News Service requested the project labor agreement but it had not been provided at press time.