Orient Heights Station

The Orient Heights Station Project  will make the station fully accessible to all passengers, as well as to make other large scale improvements to modernize the station.

The station was originally constructed in 1952 and has deteriorated over the years. The current construction work includes the installation of a new overhead pedestrian bridge, installation of four elevators and two escalators, new mechanical and power systems, a renovated Train Operations Building, new platforms and improvements to the bus access areas.  This work is necessary to comply with ADA regulations to provide accessibility to all MBTA patrons as well as to comply with current state codes and MBTA standards.

The Station has been designed by AECOM USA, Inc to be consistent with MassDOT′s “GreenDOT” policy.  The MassDOT Board of Directors authorized the award of the contract to Barletta Heavy Division (BHD) in October 2011.  BHD was issued a Notice to Proceed (NTP) on December 7, 2011.

The contractor has made substantial progress during the first year of construction.  Approximately 50% of the station platforms and canopies have been demolished. Forming and pouring of grade beams and decks on the inbound and outbound platforms is ongoing. The concrete work on the elevator shafts is almost complete. Drainage and utility installation activities (infiltration beds, telephone lines and lighting duct banks) have been completed in the Bennington busway.  Demolition of the Train Operations Building, the pedestrian bridge and the remainder of the station platforms and canopies is currently scheduled for March through April of 2013. 

Orient Heights Station will be closed to MBTA patrons beginning March 23, 2013, through mid-October 2013 to support construction activities.  During this shutdown Blue Line train service will bypass the Station. In addition, Blue Line train service (Airport Station to Wonderland Station) will be closed on approximately 13 weekends during 2013.  Bus shuttles will operate from Airport to Wonderland on these weekends.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2014.

2/2013-JF