'Fast14' I-93 Construction Project Enters Final Leg

The end is near.

The Fast14 rapid bridge replacement project on I-93 in Medford will replace its 14th and final bridge this weekend.

As usual, the work will begin Friday at 7:45 p.m. and continue through 5 a.m. Monday. It will narrow I-93 to two lanes between Exit 28 in Somerville and Exit 36 in Stoneham.

This weekend's work will replace a bridge that takes I-93 South over Route 16. As result, Route 16 will be closed to both directions of traffic near the highway.

Southbound I-93 on-ramps will be closed at exits 31, 32 and 34. Exit 33 will be available for local traffic only.

Fellsway will be used as the primary local detour route for the weekend.

Drivers coming from the eastside of I-93 on Route 16 will be sent to Route 38 to access the westside of the highway. Drivers coming from the west should take Riverside Avenue to Route 28 South.

Southbound vehicles on Route 38 looking to reach Route 16 will be routed to Lombardi Street to Route 28 North, rejoining Route 16 at Wellington Circle.

Traffic is expected to be heavy throughout the weekend. People with destinations outside the impacted area are advised to seek alternate routes, according to MassDOT.

The following lane and ramp closures are scheduled:

I-93 Northbound:

• I-93 North will be restricted to two lanes at Exit 29 beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 PM with a second lane closed shortly after. I-93 North will remain restricted to two travel lanes from Exit 29 to Exit 34 until 5:00 AM Monday, August 15.

• The use of the breakdown lane for travel will be allowed on I-93 North between the on ramp from Exit 33 (Route 28 – Roosevelt Circle) and the northerly project limit prior to Exit 34 (Route 28 North).

• All of the entrance and exit ramps on I-93 North between Exit 28 (Sullivan Square/ Charlestown) and Exit 34 (Route 28 North/Main Street) will remain open, with the exception of the entrance ramp from Routes 28/38 at Exit 29. Drivers affected by the closure of the on ramp to I-93 North at Exit 29 will be directed to use Route 28 North (Fellsway) and follow posted detour signing to access I-93 North at Exit 33 (Route 28 - Roosevelt Circle)

I-93 South:

• On Friday August 12th, I-93 South will be restricted to two lanes south of Exit 35 (Winchester Highlands/Melrose) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 PM with a second lane closed shortly after. I-93 South will remain restricted to two lanes from Exit 35 to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) until 5:00 AM Monday, August 15. I-93 South will be restored to three lanes prior to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square).

• A local traffic lane will be provided on I-93 South to provide access to Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) only. Drivers with local destinations via Exit 32 (Route 60/Salem Street - Medford Square/Malden); Exit 31 (Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway) or Exit 30 (Route 38) should enter the local traffic lane and take Exit 33 and follow posted detour signing.

• The on ramps to I-93 South from Route 28 (Fellsway West) at Exit 34; Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway at Exit 33; Route 60 (Salem Street) at Exit 32 and Route 16 East (Mystic Valley Parkway) at Exit 31 will be closed. Traffic seeking to access I-93 South via the affected ramps should follow posted detour signing to access I-93 South at Exit 28 (Sullivan Square).

• The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 South that starts north of Exit 28 will be closed throughout the weekend.

The following lane and ramp closures are scheduled:

• Route 16 under I-93 will be closed to through traffic from Friday, August 12 at 6:00 PM through Monday, August 15 at 5:00 AM. East of I-93, local traffic seeking access to South Medford on the west side of I-93 via Route 16 will be directed to continue on Route 16 West (Mystic Valley Parkway) and use the Main Street off ramp. West of I-93, local traffic seeking access to the east side of I-93 via Route 16 will be directed to either use Route 38 South to reverse direction at Lombardi Street and use Route 28 North to Wellington Circle or to use Route 38 North to Main Street North to Clippership Drive (Ring Road) to Riverside Avenue East to Route 28 South to Wellington Circle.

• Route 28 (Fellsway) will be used as the primary local detour route for the duration of the weekend. Traffic signals along the corridor have been modified to address the increased traffic demands to the extent possible.

• In the event of a safety concern with traffic congestion at intersections along Route 28 (Fellsway) or at other critical intersections impacted by detour traffic, State and local police details will provide traffic control to keep vehicular traffic moving and to provide safe crossings for bicycles and pedestrians.

• Wellington Circle (Route 28 (Fellsway) at Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway)); the intersection of Route 28 (Fellsway) with Riverside Avenue; and the Medford Square area will experience traffic congestion on Friday evening and throughout the daytime/early evening hours on Saturday and Sunday. MassDOT and the Massachusetts State Police request that drivers adhere to travel lane markings and yellow and red traffic signal displays to avoid blocking these intersections. Failure to follow this guidance will add to congestion and limit the ability of the traffic signals at these locations to operate effectively.

"Fast14" is a $98 million project that aims to replace 14 failing superstructures along I-93 in Medford by Labor Day. The majority of the work is done over weekends. For more on the project, visit its website.