The bridge connecting Elliot Street in Newton Upper Falls to Central Ave. in Needham (right near Echo Bridge) will likely close completely for six months around July to December 2016 for renovations, Wicked Local Needham reports.
During the closure, traffic heading between Needham and Newton will have to navigate to Route 9 or the Highland Avenue-Needham Street corridor. Selectmen last week expressed great concern about the impact of the closure, particularly on local business.
“There are small business areas on either side of that bridge, and they will have a substantial loss of business as a result of this,” said Selectman Moe Handel.
Greg, does this closure include for pedestrians?
…and bikes?
Ugh.
Double UGH!! Tempered with a Yay for finally addressing our failing bridges.
My immediate reaction was “Well, that’s remarkably inconvenient for me.” On the other hand, I do like the bridges I drive over to not fall down, so I guess I can live with it.
I’d be interested to know more about the structural deficiencies and the proposed remedy – can anyone tell me where I can find out about the bridge’s evaluation? The packet for the Board of Selectmen meeting had no details about the project, and the meeting minutes won’t be available for a while.
I hope the 6 month time estimate is a good one.
The JFK bridge from Harvards B School and athletic complex to Harvard Square has been under construction / remodeling for over 2 years now and is nowhere near completion. For some reason bridges seem to take an inordinate amount of time to get fixed.
Public Work ???
It seemed to me that the Route 16 bridge work at Route 9 in Wellesley went on forever. And although this shouldn’t be anywhere nearly as complex, when I hear “historic bridge” it reminds me of the Longfellow Bridge construction difficulties e.g. matching original materials. These projects can be more than originally meets the eye.
Echo Bridge is a good pedestrian alternative and despite the stairs a decent bike alternative (but out of the way if you’re heading south of Elliot St.). Now if only there were an unused railroad bridge near here that could be converted into a bike and pedestrian crossing of the Charles (so how is that Upper Falls Greenway coming along anyway?).
The route 128 / I-95 bridge over Central Ave is to be widened in the near future for the add-a-lane project. Wouldn’t it be sensible to start this at the same time while traffic on Central will be greatly reduced?
My daughter won’t be happy. Brothers Pizza just across the bridge is the go-to pizza place in my house.
@Jerry: You’ll just have to buy the family a canoe.
In all seriousness, this really is going to be a significant hardship for many business and commuters.
This is very bad for the businesses in that area. The Traffic is already difficult on Needham Street.
For bikes and pedestrians, isn’t Echo Bridge still an option? Or has access been closed to this?
@Christopher – yes, Echo Bridge is a fine bike/pedal alternative … though the DCR does frown on driving cars over Echo Bridge and those stairs are tough on your suspension.
what are they going to do with the 59 bus?
For my entire life, I’ve travelled over the same bridge in Merrimac along Rte. 95 and at this point, it’s so rusted out and dilapidated that I hold my breath whenever I drive over it. Thankfully, it’s being rebuilt, so count me amongst those who are relieved to see old bridges rebuilt/repaired.
Maybe some folks on V14 could let us know of specific businesses or areas that this project will have a negative impact on. I’d definitely make an effort to frequent those businesses during this project.
@ Jane Frantz,… One business certainly to be affected would be Cleaves Co, Landscaping and Arborist Equipment and Tools. It is technically in Needham but is just across the bridge and inside 128. I bought a lawnmower there last summer.
Dumb question. How does this time line correspond with the bridge work on Needham Street/Highland Ave?
Also, what is the time line of the Add a Lane 128/Rt 9 exit work? Are all these repairs/construction projects happening at the same time?
@Jane Franz – I already mentioned Brother Pizza in Needham. I’d also guess Dunn Gaherins might take a hit. They definitely draw a lot of customers from Needham. Will the mile or more detour keep any Needham customers away? I guess we’ll see.
@Jane Frantz, Elissa’s Creative Warehouse, where my knitting club meets, is on Reservoir right across from Brothers Pizza. If you’re in the market for any yarn or notions, I’m sure she’d love the business :)
I’ll keep a list of businesses on a stickie note and we can repost them when the bridge work begins. Another idea that might help is a set of alternate routes – we’ll definitely need that as we go over that bridge to take our car for repair work.
This is bad news for bicyclists. Kendrick Street and Eliot Street/Central Ave. are the main bicycle routes across Route 128/95 for many riders, and Kendrick Street is becoming very unpleasant due to the bridge construction there.
Mark – Bad news is a terrible accident caused by the breakdown of a bridge. This situation will definitely be harder on some than others, but we need to repair bridges throughout the state for the safety of everyone who crosses over them.
It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building. Now it takes 6 months to fix a little bridge. America aint what it used to be!
For bikes and pedestrians, isn’t Echo Bridge still an option? Or has access been closed to this?
@Bruce Henderson – Our attentions spans are getting shorter and shorter. That question was answered not once, but twice already in the thread above Bruce ;-)
@Jerry… You can say that again!
@Bruce – Say what? Where am I? ;-)
This construction schedule is way too long. Usually bridge work in that location is completed much more quickly.
Given the date I’m surprised Jerry isn’t telling us about the plan for getting cars around this blockade by putting them on rafts and sending them over Echo Bridge through the aqueduct. I think they are reversing the flow for the afternoon commute.
@BruceB – ;-)
Is there any reason the construction work can’t be done with alternating single lanes of traffic and one of those portable temporary traffic lights?