Construction for the redesign and renovation for the North Washington Bridge, known to many as the Charlestown Bridge, is expected to begin in late 2016 or early 2017 with a 3 to 4 year time frame for completion.
The bridge was originally built in 1898, and was shut down and 2003 due to safety concerns.
At a recent neighborhood meeting in the North End, the Department of Public Works (DPW) detailed the project, noting that the new bridge will have four lanes of traffic, but could change to six lanes, three on each side, if the city is compelled by residents from Charlestown and the North End and based on evidence from traffic studies to remove bike lanes from the new bridge.
DPW advised that the need for renovations is that currently, the bridge is rusted and presents a safety hazard to pedestrians walking on it.
Apparently DPW has been working on traffic patterns for the duration of the multi–million project. The overall design of the bridge is intended to mirror the Zakim Bridge’s “tuning fork” design.
           Councilor Sal LaMattina said, “It’s been a long time coming for this bridge to be renovated. I personally like the design concept and cannot wait to see the finished project. The North Washington Street Bridge is not just a road, but also a part of the Freedom Trail. I believe that this new design will be more pedestrian friendly and more inviting for tourists as they visit the historic neighborhoods of the North End and Charlestown.”