For travel planning purposes, we want to alert our patients of Stage 2 of a major Mass Department of Transportation project beginning tonight, July 26th, and running through, Monday, August 14th to replace the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Boston. This project is expected to disrupt travel in and out of the city and will specifically impact travel time for patients with appointments at our Harvard Vanguard Kenmore and Copley practice locations. Patients with appointments at Harvard Vanguard Kenmore should also be aware that the Red Sox have home games from Friday, July 28th through Sunday, August 6th which will further impact traffic when traveling to this practice. Please visit RedSox.com for more information about game times.
We are highly recommending that patients plan their travel modes and routes accordingly over the next several weeks and allow for extra travel time when commuting near impacted areas. Travelers may get up-to-date travel information by following @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, or @MassDOT on Twitter, checking websites such as Google maps or MapQuest, or through real-time traffic apps such as Waze.
The project will take place on Commonwealth Avenue between Brighton Avenue and Kenmore Square in Boston and will also include the closure to cars of the BU Bridge that connects Commonwealth Avenue to Cambridge. DOT officials are warning that this the project will significantly slow vehicle travel times on portions of the I-90 Mass Turnpike and Commonwealth Avenue near Boston University, as well as B Line MBTA Green Line customers, and some customers traveling by Amtrak and the MBTA Commuter Rail. Some officials have warned that traffic delays could reach up to 40 minutes in either direction on the Massachusetts Turnpike during the 3-week period due to lane restrictions.
Please visit the MassDOT Traffic Management website for a complete listing of closures related to the project and the DOT guide for getting around the city during the bridge shutdown. Of specific note:
- Beginning this Friday night, the Mass Turnpike between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass will be reduced to a maximum of two lanes in each direction during peak travel hours. During weekends and overnight, the Pike will be further restricted and will alternate between having only a single lane open on either side. The Mass. Pike will return to three lanes on August 8th, and four lanes on August 28th.
- The Green Line B branch will be shut down for a few blocks on either side of the construction zone and shuttle buses will be used beginning tonight to relay passengers through the work zone. The Green Line, BU Bridge, and Commonwealth Avenue are expected to return to normal on August 14th after the road is resurfaced and new sidewalks and track are added.
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