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, October 17, another traffic shift to change both vehicular and pedestrian traffic will occur so that we can construct the end state 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 shift the two lanes left as it rounds the former Sears Parking Lot and connects with the Riverway Connector.  For Park Drive vehicular traffic traveling southbound, the three lanes are reduced to two lanes as it intersects with Riverway so that we can construct the end state sidewalk and ramp.  In addition, the sidewalk on Brookline Avenue outbound will be opened for pedestrian access.

Traffic flow will remain in the same traffic pattern from the last traffic change in April 2015.  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.  Traffic signals that were installed from the September 2013 traffic change will remain permanently to ease congestion that occurs when traffic traveling down Park Drive from Brookline tries to merge with traffic exiting the Riverway toward Brookline Avenue.  A figure showing the scheduled October 17^th traffic shift is shown at the end of this notice.

As part of the vehicular traffic shift, new pedestrian walkways will be provided 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 after the traffic shift.

These changes are being made so that the traffic lanes and median can be constructed on Riverway for the end state 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.

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.