Everything You Need to Know About Comm. Ave. Bridge Construction and B Line Downage

Photo Provided by MassDOT

Commuters who rely on the Commonwealth Avenue bridge to get them to and from work are just days away from having to seek an alternative route—as if traffic in Boston could get any worse. The Comm. Ave. bridge construction will begin July 26 for the first half of MassDOT’s replacement project and conclude by August 14. So for those 19 days, from delays, closures, and detours, here’s what you need to know and what you can expect:

What: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project

When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 26 – 5 a.m. Monday, August 14

Why: This decrepit bridge is in dire need of replacement. And with its replacement comes safety and functional improvements, dedicated bike lanes, and more room for pedestrians.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is strongly encouraging commuters to get active during the construction period and is partnering with Hubway to provide additional temporary Hubway stations at Babcock Street and Silber Way. According to MassDOT’s construction blog, these are the changes that might disrupt your daily travels.

• Pedestrians, bicyclists, emergency vehicles, local businesses, residents and MBTA Buses have full access throughout the construction
• Comm. Ave. between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square and the BU Bridge will be closed to public traffic from 7 p.m. on July 27 – 5 a.m. August 14
• I-90 between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass will become two-lane traffic in both directions instead of four lanes
• Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed
• Westbound exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed periodically from August 1-August 7
• Shuttle buses will replace the Green B Line between Babcock St. and Blandford St.
• Shuttle buses will also run between Boston Landing and Yawkey Way for weekend Red Sox games
• MBTA bus routes CT2 and 47 will have detoured routes. Bus route 57 will face no changes
• Memorial Drive in Cambridge will be open to cars July 30-August 6 during the construction shutdown

These next few weeks of delays will surely induce some stress to your morning commute, but making it to work will not be entirely impossible, so be sure to regularly check MassDOT’s site for updates and warnings.