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Cleary Square in Hyde Park to be a complete mess this afternoon after state orders emergency shutdown of River Street bridge
By adamg on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 3:31pm
MassDOT reports it shut the River Street bridge over the train tracks to vehicle traffic today after "bridge inspectors identified beam deterioration during a routine and fracture critical inspection."
The state said the shutdown is "until further notice," but gave no estimate how long that means that the old bridge will be shut.
This closure is necessary to keep traffic off this bridge while material is ordered, and time is allotted for emergency repairs.
The bridge remains open to pedestrians.
The state says it will post detour signs to get motorists around the traditionally clogged Cleary Square, but did not say what those detours will be.
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Comments
Universal Hub may have saved my life
I work in Readville and live in Roxbury. and am leaving work in 15 minutes. Googling alternative routes now.
Is it still open to pedestrians?
Good question
Have e-mail into MassDOT.
Can confirm, yes. I just
Can confirm, yes. I just walked over the wooden sidewalk to go to the Post Office. Still no idea why it is made of wood? Are there other wooden sidewalks in Boston?
If I had to speculate
It was designed that way and the structural engineers determined that a heavier sidewalk (like concrete) would be too heavy for the bridge structure.
Originally built in 1883
Bridge list directory of MA bridges shows it was built in 1883 and is under state jurisdiction. Other than cosmetic fixes, no serious upgrades since then.
As of yesterday all Amtrak and MBTA trains were passing under it at speed. Pedestrian traffic allowed.
Depending on exactly what needs to be repaired, and when, We could see the rail line closed and catenary wires dropped.
That bridge also carried bus #33 and #50 which will have to be detoured.
The broader question will be whether it can be repaired or if they will have to demo and replace it. While today's report said "repairs" don't hold on to that too hard.
The MBTA just replaced the Robert Street bridge. It was 110 years old but had been rehab'd a couple of times during its lifetime. River street, under state jurisdiction (highways and DOT) is much older.
1883 meant horse and buggy.
RiverStreet Bridge Closure
LONG OVER DUE!! I stopped traveling over it bc u could SEE the planks bouncing up and down as cars crossed over; while ALSO able to see through to the ground underneath. I’m surprised a car or truck hasn’t fallen through already!!
the intersection looks ok
Google maps shows that it is surrounded with the brick red lines of doom, but if you are going straight or turning east it is not bad
There are few worse things ...
Than trying to get through the intersection of River Street and Gordon Avenue during rush hour, so hold that thought!
Who owns the bridge?
This will be like the staircase at JFK station the city, the MBTA and DCR will all deny ownership.
Unlike that one ...
MassDOT owns up to this one.
Please do not
attempt to draw any connection between the woeful state of our state infrastructure and the budget surplus that Charlie Baker wants to return to taxpayers on his way out the door. No connection at all.
Unsurprising
I pass over this bridge (on foot) daily and this is completely unsurprising to anyone who has looked at it. For the last couple years I have been amazed that they allow the amount of heavy traffic that it gets, including two bus routes (50 and 33). The main girders are bent and deformed in places, and much of the cross-bracing has simply corroded away due to neglect. I tried to figure out who to complain about it to a while ago, and found that it was already slated for repair/replacement, but not for a few years due to our horrible backlog on urgent repairs. I suppose this will force that schedule up, unless they decide to try propping it up for another couple years instead.
How long has it been
How long has it been deteriorating without anyone doing anything about it? Hopefully not as long as the underground transit system. Studies, grants, repairs, new trains, track and infrastructural repairs, They said.
It's constantly deteriorating
Your snark attempt is totally misinformed. Structures, buildings, bridges, elevators, trains, etc. are in a constant state of deterioration. Yes, constant. That's why we periodically have inspections. Hopefully, there is maintenance, too, though maintenance isn't sexy and politicians never get a ribbon cutting ceremony for maintenance projects.
Aw Nothing is built back
Aw Nothing is built back better.
I moved to Hyde Park in 1966
I moved to Hyde Park in 1966 and that bridge was a disaster then and didn't improve with age. Perfect example of the city of Boston turning a blind eye.
Not City
This is a state owned bridge. I have memories of this being an issue several times since 2000 but efforts by the city went ignored by MaDOT and the highway department.
Boston (City) only owns and maintains a handful of bridges citywide. All of the bridges, except 1 is state jurisdiction along this mainline stretch of tracks. The city-owned one is Blakemore St in Roslindale and the local neighbors are already engaged with officials to make changes, improvements, and upgrades. There is an ongoing dialogue with myself CC'd.
The city is a major part of
The city is a major part of the problem. it fails miserably to hold the state accountable. Hence the turning of the blind eye.
Ah, yet another Mayor Menino
Ah, yet another Mayor Menino legacy.
More like ...
Another Mayor White legacy.
If, that is, you assume this is a city problem, which it mostly isn't, since the bridge is owned by the state, as are most (all?) bridges over train tracks.
Most are state
Most are state. A few are city. I recently obtained a PDF of those that are city-owned since local neighbors are currently in a dialogue with the city over one of its bridges.
Here are a couple of links for River Street
https://bridgehunter.com/ma/suffolk/B161093H8MHD634/
https://bridgereports.com/1234995
It's on the DOT list as well but these two independent links give a decent picture.
Correction- another screwup by
The Selectmen of the Town of Hyde Park, since they were the politicians that were around when the bridge was built.
Fun fact- Metropolitan Avenue was supposed to link the towns of West Roxbury, Hyde Park, and Milton. In the end, it is a street in 3 parts, thanks in no small part to the railroads.
MORE CARE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL
MORE CARE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL FIX EVERYTHING.
Just kidding, we need more trains and less cars.
River St Bridge Hyde Park
Aaahh…No….Not another Mayor Menino legacy, or a Mayor White legacy. Try reading the comments where it said it was a state problem not a city problem, then pick one of your least favorite governors to blame.
Have a great day.