Closure of part of Monsignor O’Brien Highway in East Cambridge This Weekend, Staring Early Saturday, June 20

Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be closed to outbound traffic from East Street to the Gilmore Bridge and inbound from Third Street to Cambridge Street.

Green Line Extension project demolition work occurring.

A portion of Monsignor O’Brien Highway in East Cambridge will be closed this weekend to provide Green Line Extension (GLX) work crews adequate space to safely demolish the remaining section of the Lechmere Viaduct deck where it crosses over the Highway at Lechmere Station.

Traffic detours will go into effect before dawn on Saturday, June 20, and will remain in place throughout the weekend until early Monday morning, June 22. Demolition activities will occur from 7 AM to 7 PM followed by clean-up activities from 7 PM to 10 PM. Less disruptive activities such as work zone preparation and breaking down traffic control items will take place overnight.

The demolition work will involve saw-cutting and jackhammering sections of elevated concrete deck for removal by trucks at the ground level. The contractor is under a general obligation to make reasonable efforts to minimize noise where it is feasible to do so. However, due to the nature of this work, elevated noise levels are expected, which may be disruptive at times. Traffic on Monsignor O’Brien Highway is expected to resume by Monday morning, June 22, with minor restrictions in some areas.

The weekend work further advances the relocation and reconstruction of the new Lechmere Station now underway as part of the GLX project. The project, scheduled for completion in December of 2021, will extend Green Line service from the new Lechmere Station along 2 new branches to Union Square in Somerville and to College Avenue/Tufts University in Medford.

To keep traffic moving, a comprehensive transportation management plan was developed by GLX in close coordination with MassDOT’s District 6 Highway Division and the City of Cambridge. The plan involves police officers on detail strategically located to ease congestion. Traffic detours will be clearly marked for trucks, motor vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles.

Weekend Detour Routes

Before dawn on Saturday, Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be closed to outbound traffic from East Street to the Gilmore Bridge/Charlestown Avenue in East Cambridge and inbound from Third Street to Cambridge Street.

During this phase, all motor vehicles traveling outbound (northwest) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to bear left on Edwin H. Land Boulevard, make a right on Binney Street, turn right on Third Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

All motor vehicles traveling inbound (southwest) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to make a right on Third Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

Trucks traveling outbound (northwest) will be directed to make a right at the Gilmore Bridge, turn left on Rutherford Avenue, turn right on Washington Street at the Sullivan Square Rotary, and proceed to McGrath Highway.

Trucks traveling inbound on McGrath Highway will be directed to make a left on Washington Street, turn right on Rutherford Avenue at the Sullivan Square Rotary, turn right at the Gilmore Bridge, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

Pedestrians traveling outbound (northwest) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to cross over to the south sidewalk and continue on Monsignor O’Brien Highway, bear left on Cambridge Street, turn right on Second Street, turn right on Gore Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

Pedestrians traveling inbound (southeast) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to turn right on Gore Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

Bicycles traveling outbound (northwest) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to turn left on Edwin H. Land Boulevard, turn right on Rogers Street, turn right on First Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, turn right on Third Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

Bicycles traveling inbound (southeast) on Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be directed to turn right on Third Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

The MBTA appreciates the patience and understanding of motorists and others affected by these bridge closures as the GLX Project Team continues to make strides in delivering GLX to the region on schedule. The MBTA also thanks its city partners, municipal leaders, and stakeholder groups for their continued collaboration and support of GLX.