Latest news with #JonathanGulliver
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Phase one of Mass Pike weekend construction almost complete
Phase one of MassDOT's weekend project in Newton and Weston on the Mass Pike is almost over. Construction is to demolish and replace a bridge running over the MBTA railroad. MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said the lane closures went as planned. 'People took alternate routes or they adjusted their plans, and really we avoided the extreme delays that could've occurred otherwise,' Gulliver said. 'There was some heavy delays going through that site at one point yesterday. We saw it reach close to an hour, but that's nothing like it could've been.' MassDOT reduced travel to one lane in each direction on Friday night. Officials were preparing for up to three-hour delays if everyone who normally travels between exits 123 and 125 in Newton and Weston drove on through. Drivers Lars and Kim Waldmann said they avoided the Mass Pike altogether and took back roads to get to their destination. 'I have to commute on Route 128 to work every day, so I really didn't want to sit in traffic this weekend,' Lars Waldmann said. Uber driver Rick Higgins also dodged the long line of cars on Sunday. 'Once I saw that it was backed up, I tried to hop on 95, which I was successful in doing,' Higgins explained. 'So I avoided it, lucky me, I'm trying to avoid it, who likes to sit in traffic?' Phase two of the construction project will be the exact same, but traffic will be moved to the Westbound side of the turnpike during the weekend of June 20. 'That's the second lightest weekend of the summer this year so again, that's the reason we picked these weekends,' Gulliver said. 'Not a lot of events going on in the city and we're going to be asking for the same level of cooperation we got this time and hopefully we get it and things remain manageable for that weekend as well.' The phase one lane closures end Monday at 5 a.m. MassDOT said by doing the project in phases, it allows crews to get the work done in two weekends rather than two years., This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
9 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Monday morning commute expected to be normal after weekend Mass Pike closure, MassDOT says
Traffic should be normal for Monday morning commute following Mass Pike closure, MassDOT says Traffic should be normal for Monday morning commute following Mass Pike closure, MassDOT says Traffic should be normal for Monday morning commute following Mass Pike closure, MassDOT says Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said traffic should be "normal" Monday morning after weekend closures on the Mass Pike caused lots of disruptions and frustration for drivers. Construction on a new bridge has reduced traffic to one lane in both directions on a two-mile stretch of the Mass Pike on the Newton-Weston town line. All weekend long, traffic has been bumper to bumper in this area. It's all part of a massive bridge replacement project by the I-95 interchange. To take a live look at the current delays, head to the Mass 511 map. State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBZ-TV that the traffic will speed back up Monday morning when all the lanes are reopened. "That commute tomorrow should be pretty good for you after 5 a.m., once the road is fully restored," said Gulliver. "I'd expect a little bit of residual traffic to clear through and then should be a normal Monday morning commute any time after 5:15, 5:30." Gulliver advised commuters to delay the start of their day until after the roads reopen at 5 a.m. A second weekend of closures is planned for Friday, June 20, at 9 p.m. until Monday, June 23, at 5 a.m.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mass. Pike lane closures in Newton, Weston to cause heavy delays. Here's what you need to know
Weekend lane closures are in effect on the Mass. Pike as crews aim to replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA railroad. The closures on I-90 will be between exits 123 and 125 in Weston and Newton, a two-mile stretch from the Ridgeway Road bridge in Weston to the Commonwealth Avenue overpass in Newton. MassDOT is reducing traffic to one lane in each direction until Monday at 5 a.m. 'They'll be demolishing the roof of that existing tunnel and then replacing it with prefabricated bridge unit. This will be happening over the next couple of days,' Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. Peak traffic could cause up to three hours of delays and officials strongly advise drivers to avoid the area if possible. The project is also temporarily shutting down the commuter rail this weekend. 'They'll be on shuttle buses, that's both Amtrak and the MBTA out from as far as Worcester, if you're coming in, you're going to be on a shuttle bus; they have their own detour routes that they'll be using throughout the weekend,' Gulliver said. Phase two of the project will be the weekend of June 20th. buses. MassDOT says they are working with state and local law enforcement. Drivers are encouraged to make extra time, but also, most importantly, slow down. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Huge impact': Project starting Friday could delay Mass. Pike traffic for hours, official warns
A major construction project that kicks off Friday and lasts through the weekend could back up traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike for hours, a state transportation official warned drivers. Lane closures will be deployed on Interstate 90 in Newton and Weston starting at 9 p.m. on Friday to allow for the demolition of a bridge that runs over the MBTA railroad, according to MassDOT. 'What they'll be doing is demolishing the roof of that existing tunnel and replacing it with pre-fabricated bridge units. This will happen all over the next couple of days,' Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told Boston 25 News. 'This is an approach we've used really successfully over the last few years, several of them on the Turnpike.' The impacted stretch of the Pike between Exits 123 and 125 will be reduced to just one lane of traffic in each direction through 5 a.m. on Monday. A zipper lane, similar to MassDOT's HOV lane, will be in place to move all traffic over to the eastbound side of the highway, according to Gulliver. Major traffic delays are anticipated during work hours. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the impacted areas and to seek alternate routes. 'If 100 percent of the traffic shows up, we've modeled that this would end up being two to three hours worth of delays getting through here,' Gulliver said. 'That's a huge, huge impact. So, we don't want to see come through here if you don't have to.' Drivers who need to access the Turnpike are urged to plan ahead using Mass511, MassDOT social media platforms, and navigational apps like Apple Maps, Waze, and Google Maps. 'We know it's going to impact a lot of people. We're asking people if they don't have to travel through the Newton/Weston area on the Turnpike to please avoid it,' Gulliver said. 'We know it's going to be congested.' Gulliver also warned drivers that residual traffic is expected to spill over onto secondary roads in and around the area. 'This is going to be a tough project to get through, regardless of where you're coming from,' Gulliver said. 'You're going to be seeing some congestion on any of those connected roadways.' Appropriate signage and messaging will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. MassDOT said that this work will additionally require a shutdown of MBTA Commuter Rail service on the Framingham/Worcester line between South Station and Framingham, and Amtrak service between Boston and Albany. Alternate busing will be provided. A second weekend of lane closures will later commence at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 20, through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23, Gulliver reminded drivers. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mass Pike construction this weekend will cause "intense pain" unless traffic levels drop, highway admin says
Transportation officials in Massachusetts are once again urging drivers to avoid the Mass Pike near Boston this weekend. A bridge replacement project in the Newton and Weston area could cause delays of up to three hours, the highway administrator said earlier this month. Only one lane will be open in each direction of the highway in each direction from Friday night through Monday morning while crews replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA railroad. Highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver said massive construction projects like this can cause "intense pain" on the roadways. "Make sure that you know what you're getting into," Gulliver told anyone who will be traveling through the area this weekend. "Above all else, leave yourself a lot of extra time." Major traffic delays possible on Mass Pike this weekend More than 100,000 cars typically travel on a weekend day between exits 123 and 125, where the construction is taking place. Modeling shows that hours-long delays are possible if there are normal levels of traffic this weekend, Gulliver said. But he added that delays will be "manageable" if MassDOT reaches its goal of diverting 50% of usual traffic away from the construction zone. Highway signs are already alerting drivers to the big disruption. "We're looking for you to just stay away from the area," Gulliver said. When is the Mass Pike construction happening? The lane closures are happening between Friday, May 30 at 9 p.m. until Monday, June 2 at 5 a.m. A second weekend of construction is planned to start on Friday, June 20 at 9 p.m. and last through Monday, June 23 at 5 a.m. Residual delays are possible for the Monday morning commute after construction work is finished. The MBTA Worcester Commuter Rail line will have to be shut down near Boston during construction on those weekends. Trains will only run between Framingham and Worcester, but alternative busing will be provided. "It's going to be stressful for everybody," Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said. "Relax and be patient and give yourself plenty of time."
