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The much awaited reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge has started. The construction will take 3 1/2 years. On Sunday July 21st the bridge was reduced to one travel lane into Boston. The Red Line, pedestrian access and bicycle lanes in both directions remains.
The first week of traffic detours have mostly been OK with Tuesday night’s traffic being the worst of the week. MassDOT, Cambridge, and Boston are working closely together to monitor and improve the detour operation. Daily debriefings occur with all stakeholders and public safety providers and improvements made in response to the problems that arise. The first week’s challenges included an unexpected emergency Red Line busing operation Sunday, two power outages, 3 sinkholes on the detour routes, 1(one) torrential rainstorm with flooding, the Red Sox at Fenway, both Justin Bieber and Beyonce in concert at the TD Garden, and the expected glitches in signal timing, signage or pavement markings that needed adjustment.
Drivers are still adjusting to which route they will use, but generally the operation has gone well. Traffic has been heavy at Leverett Circle and O’Brien Highway at the Gilmore Bridge on the primary detour route, and along Mass Ave in both Boston and Cambridge. It should settle down over the next few weeks. The operation will then need to take on the added traffic the region always experiences in September.
The Cambridge Traffic and Parking Department encourages Cambridge businesses and residents to contact them about any issues about travel in the area. We strongly urge anyone who can to use transit, walk, bicycle, or drive in off peak times. For more information about the project go to the MassDOT website at: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/LongfellowBridge.aspx .
Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation contact information:
Susan Clippinger, Director, sclippinger@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4743
Jeff Parenti, Traffic Engineer, jparenti@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4715
Link to Cambridge Bound Vehicle Detour Map
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