CONCORD, Mass. – Construction activities continue on Phase 1 of the $30.9 million Muddy River Flood Risk Management and Environmental Restoration project in Boston, Massachusetts. On Saturday, April 25 and 26, another traffic shift to change both vehicular and pedestrian traffic will occur to continue construction of the arch culvert underneath Riverway and to begin construction of a new left turn onto Park Drive from Riverway. This traffic shift will maintain the current traffic pattern around the former Sears Parking Lot at Park Drive, between the Landmark Center and the Riverway Connector, but will funnel the three lanes of traffic down to two lanes as it rounds the former Sears Parking Lot and connects with the Riverway Connector. In addition, Brookline Avenue will be opened back up to two-way traffic to alleviate any potential congestion caused by the Park Drive lane reductions.
On Saturday, April 25, the traffic shift will focus on opening Brookline Avenue back to two-way traffic. The section of Brookline Avenue, between Park Drive and Fenway, will be closed to thru-traffic to move jersey barriers in place to delineate the roadway. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured to the Jug Handle roadway or Avenue Louis Pasteur during the closure. Vehicular traffic and pedestrian signals will be adjusted to allow for the two-way traffic. Line striping to delineate the new lanes will be done on that day. At the end of the day, traffic coming down Brookline Avenue or Boylston Street outbound that want to continue down Brookline Avenue to the medical center will be able to continue on Brookline Avenue (like it used to prior to construction start).
On Sunday, April 26, the traffic shift will focus on Park Drive as it rounds the former Sears Parking Lot and connects with the Riverway Connector. Traffic on Park Drive and Riverway will be adjusted with traffic cones (no whole road closures) in order to move jersey barriers in place to delineate the new roadway configuration. Vehicular traffic and pedestrian signals adjustments and line striping to delineate the new lanes will be done on that day. At the end of the day, traffic on Park Drive will become two lanes going around the former Sears Parking Lot between the Landmark Center and the Riverway Connector.
As part of the vehicular traffic shift, new pedestrian walkways will be constructed in the vicinity of where existing sidewalks reside in the project area. One will be located adjacent to the former Sears Parking Lot between the Landmark Center and the Riverway Connector and one will be located adjacent to the Riverway Intake Structure to help pedestrian flow through the project site.
These changes are being made so that the installation of the culvert under Riverway can continue, while we begin construction of the new left turn onto Park Drive from Riverway. This shift will help to maintain project completion in early 2016. Police details will be used to assist drivers and pedestrians during the implementation and initial stages of this traffic shift on both days.
For Muddy River project construction updates visit the website at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/ProjectsTopics/MuddyRiver.aspx
If you have questions contact Project Manager, Jennifer Flanagan at MuddyRiver@usace.army.mil or call 978-318-8015.