Charles River Accelerated Bridge Program

Longfellow Bridge

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has overseen the reconstruction of the bridges in the Charles River Basin between Boston and Cambridge.

The Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) was the Commonwealth’s eight-year, $3 billion program to repair bridges across the Commonwealth that were structurally deficient or would otherwise become structurally deficient. As part of transportation reform legislation, ownership of the bridges in the Charles River Basin was transferred from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to MassDOT. MassDOT is responsible for the design and construction of bridges in the Charles River Basin that are included in the ABP program.

Bridge

Status

More Information

Craigie Bridge (Museum of Science)

Complete

MassDOT web page

Boston University Bridge

Complete

MassDOT web page

Magazine Beach Footbridge

Complete

MassDOT web page

Anderson Memorial Bridge

Complete

MassDOT web page

Longfellow Bridge

Substantially Complete

MassDOT web page

River Street and Western Avenue Bridges

Project suspended. 75% Design Plans completed. Click here to view the plans.

MassDOT web page

Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Access

As part of the Accelerated Bridge Program, MassDOT hired a consulting team to conduct a Bicycle/Pedestrian Path Access Study to address connections from neighborhoods, institutions, and business districts to and from the path network along the Charles River Basin. The consulting team made recommendations on bicycle and pedestrian designs for each of the bridges and intersections on each side of the bridges, as well as improvements to the path network itself.

For More Information

For more information, please contact Donny Dailey, MassDOT Legislative and Community Affairs, 857/368-8902, Donny.Dailey2@dot.state.ma.us.

Within the city, those seeking additional information should contact Bill Deignan in the Cambridge Community Development Department, at  wdeignan@cambridgema.gov, or 617/349-4632.