Clear progress in Kenmore Square

No, no, just the usual MBTA construction schedule. At least there's some visible progress. How long since we've seen any at Arlington, Copley or Kenmore?

Perhaps...

By BrucemB
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 8:20am

Perhaps they hired the same contractor who did such a speedy job upgrading that old bridge next to the Irish Alehouse in Dedham.

(Adam will know what I'm talking about)

Ah, yes, that was a fun project

By adamg
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 8:27am

Or not.

But unlike the MBTA, they had an excuse: Part of the (interminable) delay was figuring out how to protect the historic old bridge that sits under the current bridge. brilliant answer: Completely encase the old bridge in concrete so that you can't even see it's there.

Ha, so that's the deal there!

By jchristian
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 11:21am

I have often wondered why that bridge has been such a mess for so long... then I forgot about it, because for years, like many others from the area, I have just skipped it and gone off the rotary and through the center instead when heading south.

MBTA Construction Update

By Arborway
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 2:03pm

I posted this at Railroad.net yesterday:

Arlington

The Arlington side of the station was due to reopen two and a half months ago. There is little reason to believe this will happen before the end of the year. Then the pseudo-renovated Berkeley side will need to be closed again and renovated once more.

Elevator shaft construction has begun on the inbound platform, though the one on the outbound side built last summer is still an empty shell.

Construction on the new headhouses has not begun, nor has any work been done on rehabilitating and rebuilding either platform, save for a new staircase.

An open pit still exists next to the old Shreve, Crump and Lowe building.

Copley

Workers are presumably still trying to sort out the relocation of a pesky sewer line on the inbound side. Lots of pits dug, then filled in again. Other than a few overhead lights and an empty cableway bolted to the ceiling ages ago, no work has been done on either platform in over a year and a half. No sign of any elevator work done on the outbound side since construction began in 2006.

Kenmore

A nearly-complete escalator was visible when I went a few weeks ago. The platforms are still a mess, the busway is only now getting its glass paneling (over a year after construction of the bus shelter began). The pathetic tile mismatch in the lobby is still there. Some more nice faux-tile on the platform walls, but the pillars are still a flaky mess. Let's not even talk about the tunnel walls or station ceilings. Walking through Kenmore Station, you get the distinct feeling the new construction will begin to decay before the thing is ever finished.

No photo in RSS feed

By scottso
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 9:49am

This photo didn't show up in the RSS feed. Is something broken?

Will look into it

By adamg
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 10:29am

Second complaint like this in a few days; my apologies.

Thanks Adam!

By scottso
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 10:32am

Thanks Adam!

Pleasant under glass

By John K
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 11:18am

Yes, the glass is going up, but have you driven through there??? It's a car wreck waiting to happen. The roads have all been torn up - I assume it must be because they are going to level and repave ... I don't know. It seems very sloppy and poorly-thought out.

Plus, underground, the rebuilding of the station looks to be about 1/3 done. After ... four years?

Clear progress in Kenmore Square

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