SAUGUS — There will be an informational meeting in Saugus next week about construction projects on the Tobin Bridge and 60-year-old Chelsea Viaduct, which are expected to impact traffic on Route 1.
The projects are slated to begin this spring.
A March 21 meeting at Saugus Town Hall will focus on the construction phasing and timeline for both projects. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will present and address comments from residents and town officials.
The Tobin Bridge is in need of repair to continue service through the 21st century, according to MassDOT. The lower deck of Route 1 North will undergo steel repairs and the upper deck of Route 1 South will be repaved.
The Everett Avenue ramp will undergo steel repairs and be resurfaced, and the ramp at Beacon Street will undergo deck rehabilitation. Work will also include the construction of a new parking area.
The Chelsea Viaduct, built in 1957, carries Route 1 from the end of the Tobin Bridge to the County Road Overpass. It is a crucial link between Chelsea, the northern suburbs, and Boston, but its condition is deteriorating.
MassDOT says the viaduct is safe, but structurally deficient. It carries 63,000 vehicles each day.
Public meetings will also be held at Wilmington Town Hall Monday, March 18; Ipswich Town Hall Tuesday, March 19; Peabody Town Hall Wednesday, March 20; Newburyport City Hall Monday, March 25; and at the Andover Public Safety Center Tuesday, March 26.
