A major bridge construction project led by MassDOT began in December 2023 to replace or rehabilitate eight bridges at the I-90/I-95 interchange in Newton and Weston. The work includes the replacement of the Ramps A/B bridges over the Charles River, Ramp G over the Hultman Aqueduct, Ramp G over I-90 and the mainline I-90 bridges over both I-95 and the Charles River.
SPS-Walsh Joint Venture, based in Salisbury, Mass., is the lead contractor for the $386.6 million project, which is fully funded through Non-Federal Aid/Metropolitan Highway System funding.
This design-build project involves the replacement of the 1,020-ft.-long, four-span I-90 bridge over I-95 and the Charles River, as well as three additional ramp bridges. It also includes two superstructure replacements — one of which is the I-90 bridge over the MBTA/CSX rail — and rehabilitation of three other bridges.
The SPS-Walsh Joint Venture crews continue I-90 mainline Stage 1 bridge construction, according to SPS New England. Pier cofferdam construction in the Charles River has been completed, and crews are progressing with driven pile installation, tremie seal placement and the construction of concrete pile caps and lower columns at Pier 2. This phase included the placement of 400 cubic yds. of concrete for the Pier 2 bridge foundation elements.
Stage 1 progress continues with mainline bridge pier construction, abutment foundation pile driving, drilled micropile installation and MSE wall construction — all in preparation for upcoming structural steel erection. A second access trestle also is being built across the Charles River. At the MBTA bridge, crews are extending the piers in preparation for superstructure replacement. Ramp A/B bridge raised median demolition also has begun in advance of an upcoming traffic phase shift.
Contract equipment in use by SPS New England includes sectional barges, work skiffs and self-propelled work platforms, as well as a range of general construction equipment such as tractors with three-point attachments, excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers with attachments and compact track loaders.
The project is expected to reach substantial completion by 2028.
Once the project has been completed, the location will feature improved bridge and roadway safety, increased vertical clearance for freight movements, improved seismic resiliency and reduced noise impacts through the installation of noise walls along I-90 in Auburndale to the project's eastern limit of work, according to Mass.gov. CEG
(MassDOT photo)
