Some relief for peak Pike commuters
Full capacity anticipated for Monday
By the time you drive to work on Monday, the commute on the Mass Pike may just about be back to normal.
Replacement of the westbound deck of the Commonwealth Avenue bridge is on schedule, highway officials said yesterday, with full capacity on the Pike expected to be restored during peak travel hours by Monday’s commute.
“We expect to restore the Mass Pike to its full capacity for peak travel hours by Monday morning, and we appreciate members of the public continuing to heed our warning on driving through this area and making smart decisions on route, timing and mode of travel,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.
The intense construction during the current phase 4 of the project has roiled traffic throughout the city with lane closures on the Pike during peak and off-peak hours for the last week.
Travel this weekend will remain a challenge, MassDOT said, as workers remove the last few beams on the west side of the deck.
“Members of the public should be aware that if they are heading out of Boston tonight or throughout the weekend, only one lane of travel will be open on I-90 westbound after 8 p.m., and until 5 a.m., Monday,” said Gulliver.
Off-peak and overnight lane closures will continue to be necessary throughout the coming weeks as crews continue work on the project.
Commonwealth Avenue between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square will remain closed until 5 a.m. on Aug. 11, as will the Boston University bridge.
The $110 million project is scheduled for completion in 2019 under an accelerated construction plan. The project would have taken an estimated four or five years using conventional techniques, according to MassDOT.
The westbound side of the bridge is being constructed this summer following the eastbound side last summer. Crews are using three cranes that weigh 600 tons each to place 45 steel beams and 214 prefabricated concrete deck panels to build the new bridge.