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Cambridge Tunnel Reconstruction Project

Includes the Cambridge St tunnel and the overpass area adjacent to Harvard Yard

This project has been completed. No further updates to this project page will be made.

December 1, 2014

The project has been completed.

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November 17, 2014

Crews will continue working on asphalt transitions in and out of the tunnel and will perform line striping.  The tunnel is expected to completely reopen in the next 2 weeks.

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November 10, 2014

Crews continue to monitor the curing process for the newly placed concrete and prepare for the asphalt transitions on the eastbound side of the tunnel. Crews will continue with the demobilization process this week.

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October 27, 2014

On Thursday, October 30, the City’s contractor, MIG Corporation, will close the westbound portion of the Cambridge Street Tunnel (traveling towards Harvard Square), in order to place new concrete wearing surface. The westbound lanes will be closed from 4am – 3pm. Motorists travelling in the eastbound lanes will not be impacted. Message boards and detour signs will be highly visible during this closure. Emergency vehicles will maintain access at all times. Please click here to view detour.

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October 20, 2014

Beginning at 11pm on Monday, October 20, the City’s contractor, MIG Corporation, will close the eastbound portion of the Cambridge Street Tunnel (Harvard Square towards Cambridge Fire Headquarters), in order to pour new concrete flooring. The eastbound portion of the tunnel will be closed from 11pm through 12pm on Tuesday, October 21. Motorists travelling in the westbound lanes will not be impacted. There will be a final westbound closure at the end of October, and we expect all construction activities to be complete in November. Please click here to view detour.

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September 22, 2014

This week, crews will begin to remove old concrete material from the existing lanes inside of the tunnel. There will be one lane closed in each direction.

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June 20, 2014

Beginning the week of June 23, the City’s contractor, MIG Corporation, will mobilize crews to replace the 2” concrete overlay in the Cambridge Street Tunnel. The concrete overlay, which was installed in the summer of 2013, did not bond properly with the floor of the tunnel and began failing last fall. Over the winter and spring, sections of the overlay deteriorated and had to be replaced with temporary asphalt patches. Next week, the contractor will begin to remove the 2” concrete overlay, make any necessary repairs to the concrete base and then place the new concrete wearing surface. The work will be done in phases to maintain one travel lane in each direction of the tunnel, and is expected to be completed by September 2014.

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Construction Schedule

Overpass Schedule (Harvard Property-Surface Work)

Storm drain and Sidewalk Restoration               April 2012-August 2012

Waterproofing and Concrete Repair                June 2012-September 2012

Utility Upgrades                                          June 2012-September 2012

Landscape Design Activities                          September 2012-January 2013

Final Plantings                                            April 2013-May 2013

 

Underpass Schedule (Tunnel Work)

Ceiling Repairs                                          October 2012-November 2012

Wall Repairs                                             October 2012-December 2012

Wearing Surface Repairs                             March 2013-April 2013

Roadway Reconstruction and Paving              June 2013-August 2013

 

 

 

The City has recently begun work on reconstruction of the tunnel on Cambridge St at the northern end of Harvard Yard.  This is a major infrastructure project to address structural conditions within the tunnel.  The most significant improvements will include:

  • Drainage work and waterproofing the top slab.
  • Replacement of the tunnel wearing surface.
  • Repairs to the roof, center and exterior walls.

 

Alterations to the surface of the overpass are necessary to allow for construction access during reconstruction of the tunnel.  The City and Harvard University are coordinating with regard to plans to restore and improve surface conditions on the overpass that will be affected by the repairs to the tunnel.  The scope of the proposed alterations within the historic district include widening and repairs to the brick City sidewalk at the curved approach to the overpass at the northwest corner of Harvard Yard and removal of a concrete planter and railing at the edge of the overpass.  The planter will be replaced with surface concrete pavers and two benches, while an edge wall will replace the existing railing to ensure safety as well as define the boundaries of the overpass.

These alterations will improve the safety conditions for the many pedestrians and cyclists who use the overpass by creating an even surface on the brick public sidewalk, removing barriers to visibility and reducing conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists.

Please visit Harvard University's construction website to learn more about the surface improvements and schedule.

To learn more about the project and view construction documents please visit the Documents tab. 

 

 

 

Cambridge Department of Public Works 147 Hampshire Street

kdunn@cambridgema.gov

General work hours are 7 AM to 4 PM

 

For additional information or assistance, please contact Jeya Niranjan, Project Manager at 617.349.4848/ jniranjan@cambridgema.gov or Tracy Dwyer, Administrative Assistant, at 617.349.4826/ tdwyer@cambridgema.gov.

For 24-hour emergency assistance please call Public Works at 617.349.4800.

Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 3:43 AM
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