Fairmount Bridge Project Underway

Complete Overhaul Of 3 Bridges In Dorchester

MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas announced today the complete replacement of the Columbia Road, Quincy Street, and Massachusetts Avenue Commuter Rail bridges located along the Fairmount Corridor in Dorchester.

At a cost of $22,865m, the existing superstructure and substructure of each bridge will be demolished and replaced with structurally sound support systems. New retaining walls will be built along the right-of-way to support track restoration allowing for improvements to service.

“Under the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick, aggressive steps are being taken to invest again in our public infrastructure,” said Secretary Bernard Cohen. “The rehabilitation of these bridges is testament to the Administration’s promise to make wise investments that will ultimately improve the quality of life for citizens of the Commonwealth.”

Challenged with maintaining the T in a “State of Good Repair”, MBTA General Manager Grabauskas emphasized the constant need of investment to maintain the T’s extensive infrastructure network. “We’re moving in the right direction,” said Grabauskas. “A 110 year old transit system comes with challenges. We have been prioritizing our goals, and addressing our infrastructure, including the T’s aging bridges. This is an investment that will provide better, more reliable service for our customers.”

The T’s Contractor J.F. White has begun preliminary work at each bridge in preparation for demolition and reconstruction. Work requires a temporary one track operation at Uphams Corner station which will continue throughout the entire project slated for completion Summer 2010. At various phases of the project, customers will be redirected to opposite platforms for inbound and outbound service.

Effective today through January 18, customers traveling outbound to Forge Park will be redirected to the inbound platform. On Monday, January 21, customers traveling inbound to South Station will be redirected to the outbound platform, and will continue to access service at that location through April 2009. The final stage will involve work to the outbound platform that will continue through 2010.

Over the past 10 years, the MBTA has spent approximately $90 million on its bridge management program. The T plans to spend $75 million over the next five years for bridge repair and replacement, which includes funding for six bridges as part of the Fairmount Corridor Improvement Project. The MBTA owns 471 bridges including 282 commuter rail bridges.