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Morton Street over train tracks to be shut for ten days so new bridge can be put in
By adamg on Thu, 08/07/2014 - 10:00am
The antiquated Morton Street bridge over the Fairmount Line shuts at 9 a.m. on Friday so the state can replace it with a more modern span.
Officials say the new bridge - pre-built off site - will be moved into place this weekend and that it should be open to traffic by 5 a.m. on Aug. 18.
Due to the work, the 21 and 26 bus routes will be detoured.
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Comments
There will be a temporary
There will be a temporary pedestrian bridge, except maybe during the first weekend.
It says the bridge closes at
It says the bridge closes at 10pm on Friday Aug 8
Not antiquated
The bridge is far from antiquated.
It is being raised to 17.5 meters clearance to meet modern standards. All trains pass under it quite well as it is and there are no weight restrictions either.
The raise-up will allow for the potential for future electrification should that ever become desirable (and affordable). It will also allow for the possible passage of double-stack container freight, and select military vehicles were it ever necessary to reach the Port of Boston.
All of the bridges along that line were or are in process of being replaced or upgraded to improve passenger rail traffic as well as meet needs for future possible expansion.
The bridge over the tracks at the Hyde Park-Mattapan line on River Street was also raised and that was built less than 20 years ago.
The Morton St bridge is one of the last that needed this upgrade or replacement.