Revere traffic woes: Ring a Bell?

REVERE – Consider this fair warning. Traffic in and around Bell Circle is going to get a little busier on two upcoming weekends due to a project to replace a nearby bridge.”This project, while necessary due to the age and condition of the bridge, presents a particularly difficult traffic situation for commuters and residents alike,” Revere Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli said Thursday.”The closure of the bridge, removal, and replacement of the span will no doubt cause considerable difficulties in simply traveling from one side of the city to the other. But in the end, the replacement will be safer and hopefully improve traffic flow on Winthrop Avenue. Please be patient during the construction process.”The Winthrop Avenue Bridge is located just south of Bell Circle, the rotary at the intersections of Route 1A, Route 16, and Route 60.The bridge enables Winthrop Avenue (Route 145) and Revere Beach Parkway (the section of Route 16 heading east) to cross the commuter rail tracks. The bridge closures will impact commuter rail, bus, vehicle, and pedestrian travel, according to an advisory from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MDOT).According to a map provided by the transportation department, traffic on Winthrop Avenue will be rerouted along Hichborn Street, Route 1A and Route 16. The detour route is approximately a half mile long.At approximately 8 p.m. Friday, May 29, the bridge will be shut down in both directions. Both vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be re-routed along the detour, and there will be traffic details to assist. The affected section of the commuter rail will be closed, and the MBTA/Keolis will bus passengers. The MBTA will also change its bus routes to follow the detour, according to the MDOT announcement.The bridge will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, June 1, but Route 145 will be reduced from three travel lanes in each direction to a single travel lane in each direction. Both lanes will be on the existing eastbound section of the bridge, the transportation agency said.”Existing traffic signal system phases will be modified during this period to attempt to minimize adverse traffic impacts,” the MDOT said.The reduced lane configuration will continue until 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, when the bridge will again be closed and traffic re-routed along the detour.At 5 a.m. Monday, June 8, Route 145 will re-open with two travel lanes in each direction.”There are no anticipated roadway closures that would require the detouring of traffic from June 8 to Labor Day due to restrictions on railroad closures and increased traffic volumes from beach traffic,” the MDOT said. “Through this time, the contractor will be coordinating utility relocation and continuing construction operations using temporary lane closures during the standard hours of operation.”However, the DOT said the two weekend shutdowns will be scheduled for the fall to complete the project.