Muddy River Construction Plans for April and May

Work on the $93 million Muddy River Restoration Project, an environmental, preservation and flood control project to address serious flooding and environmental issues along the Muddy River, has moved into its third month of Phase 1. 

Phase 1, which is expected to be completed in three years and cost $31 million, will involve day-lighting of the river between the Riverway and Avenue Louis Pasteur by removing two 72-inch culverts, the installation of two 24-foot x 10-foot precast concrete culverts under the Riverway and Boylston Street, vehicular traffic and pedestrian improvements and significant landscape improvements to new and existing sections of the river channel. 

Work began in February and March, when construction areas were enclosed, and preparations were made to switch Brookline Avenue between Fenway and Park Drive will be one-way. This traffic pattern change will happen in July. 

Construction managers have cut some holes in the Sears Rotary screening on the Brookline Avenue sidewalk so that the construction site is visible to the public. However, officials said residents must not enter the active construction site.

"Some people have been cutting through the construction site when the gates are open," the Army Corps noted in their latest update on April 2. "That is an extremely dangerous thing to do."

Work has also begun on relocating the driveway exit out of Landmark Center onto Park Drive, which is expected to take effect in June. 

Upcoming Work to be Done in April:

• Drilling and intalling test shafts at five locations: Testing the concrete shafts causes a sound that sounds like a gunshot. Officials will notify the public on the days when testing is to be done. There will be only one test per day.
• Installation of concrete shafts that will support the Brookline Avenue culvert.
• Elimination of diagonal pathway across the former Sears Parking lot.
• Other early incidental work activities scheduled over the next 90 days include: soil borings and sampling, survey, and observation well installation. These activities will also require periodic roadway lane closures and pedestrian re‐direction to allowforthe work. All roadway lane closures will be supported by police details to assist in traffic management.
• You can see the full list of Muddy River Project construction activities from now through the end of June here. 

FENWAY-KENMORE PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates