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Major delays expected in second weekend of I-90 lane closures
The lane reduction will be between exits 123 and 125 in Newton and Weston on Friday at 9 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will reduce a stretch of I-90 to one lane for a second weekend this month while a major bridge reconstruction project is underway, with large traffic delays anticipated.
The lane reduction will be between exits 123 and 125 in Newton and Weston on Friday at 9 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m., according to MassDOT. There will also be a brief closure of the ramp from Route 128 northbound to Route 30 starting Wednesday from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning.
The closures will make way for a $400 million reconstruction project of eight bridges in and around the I-495/I-90 interchange. While the bridges are currently safe, they are aging and deteriorating, according to MassDOT.
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Of these bridges, five will be replaced, one will be rehabilitated, and two will have their superstructure replaced, MassDOT said. The project that started last year is expected to last four and a half years.
The department condensed lanes from May 30 to June 2 for the first scheduled weekend to repair the bridge suspended over Commuter Rail train tracks in Auburndale.
MassDOT said in a statement that there was about a 30% to 36% reduction in traffic volume and the average wait time was up to one hour.
On an average day, more 100,000 cars go through I-90, with 75,000 passing through the interchange, with about half of all trucking going to eastern Massachusetts, according to MassDOT. To avoid up to three-hour delays, the department encouraged drivers ahead of closures to find alternate routes.
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Drivers aren’t the only ones affected by the construction. The Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail line will temporarily shut down service between South Station and Framingham through the weekend starting at 11 p.m. Friday, according to the MBTA.
Free shuttle bus service will be available between the Lansdowne and West Newton stations and between the Auburndale and Framingham stations. The adjusted time table can be found here. Fares for the Commuter Rail line will be free all weekend.
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