The Green Line Extension (GLX) announced Friday that demolition of the Lechmere Viaduct between the Gilmore Bridge and existing Lechmere Station in East Cambridge was to begin on Saturday, June 6. The work will further advance the relocation and reconstruction of the new Lechmere Station now underway as part of the Green Line Extension project (GLX). The project, scheduled for completion in December 2021, will extend Green Line service from the new Lechmere Station along two new branches to Union Square in Somerville and to College Avenue/Tufts University in Medford.
Demolition work began last weekend and will continue for approximately two weeks, followed by overnight work. During weekend work, vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic will be detoured around the work area. During the following two weeks, traffic detours will not be in place on weekdays, though lane closures may occur. Through close collaboration with MassDOT’s District 6 Highway Division and the City of Cambridge, GLX has prepared a comprehensive transportation management plan, which includes detailed police officers and carefully defined detours for truck and vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists. This plan is designed to change as work zones are moved day-to-day along the alignment.
Starting this past Monday, the elevated deck structure was sawcut into sections and lifted out of the work area by crane to reduce vibration and dust impacts to nearby buildings. The hours of operation for demolition activity are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days per week with demolition expected to last approximately two weeks. While this work will be ongoing during weekdays, lanes of traffic may be closed, but traffic will not be detoured.
Overnight work will follow and is expected to include cleanup and staging in preparation for further demolition activities the following day. Upon completion of this upcoming demolition work, the process for reconstructing the viaduct will continue through the summer.
•Weekend Detour Routes:
Beginning Saturday morning, June 6, the northbound (outbound) lane of Monsignor O’Brien Highway will be closed to through traffic from Charlestown Avenue (Gilmore Bridge) to Leighton Street.
During this phase, all pedestrians traveling west will be directed to follow Monsignor O’Brien Highway on the south sidewalk, make a left on Cambridge Street, turn right on Second Street, turn right on Gore Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.
Trucks and motor vehicles will travel south on Edwin H. Land Boulevard, turn right on Binney Street, turn right on Third Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.
Bicyclists will be directed to travel south on Edwin H. Land Boulevard, turn right at Cambridge Place, turn right on First Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, turn right on Third Street, and proceed to Monsignor O’Brien Highway.