Following a Sox win or loss, no fan wants to sit in traffic. To avoid even heavier traffic, the Boston Red Sox are urging fans to take public transportation from June 3-6 as Interstate-93 will undergo major construction.
I-93 in Medford will be reduced to two lanes in each direction, as the first of a series of rapid bridge superstructure replacements starts over Riverside Avenue on I-93 North.
The construction is slated to begin Friday at 8 p.m. and end Monday morning at 5 a.m. If you're heading in to watch the Sox take on the Oakland Athletics this weekend, here are some restrictions to take note of for travel.
Route I-93 Southbound
• On Friday, June 3, I-93 south will be restricted to two lanes south of Exit 35 (Winchester Highlands/Melrose) beginning with a single lane closure at 7:45 p.m., with a second lane closed shortly thereafter to initiate the installation of the zipper lane and median crossovers for activation at 10:00 p.m. I-93 south will remain restricted to two lanes from Exit 35 to Exit 28 (Sullivan Square) until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, June 6.
• All of the entrance and exit ramps on I-93 south between Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) and Exit 28 (Sullivan Square/Charlestown) will remain open with the exception of the entrance ramp from Route 28/Fellsway West in Stoneham.
• Traffic on I-93 south will utilize the right two travel lanes. Traffic on I-93 north will travel in the adjacent left lanes, separated by the zipper barrier. The shoulder lane on I-93 south will be restricted to use by emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.
• The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 south that starts just north of Exit 28 will be closed throughout the weekend.
Route I-93 Northbound
• On Friday, June 3, I-93 north will be restricted to two lanes at Exit 29 (Route 28/38 – Somerville/Everett) beginning with a single lane closure at 8:00 p.m., with a second lane closed shortly thereafter to initiate the installation of the zipper lane and median crossovers for activation at 10:00 p.m. I-93 north will remain restricted to two travel lanes from Exit 29 to Exit 34 (Route 28 north) until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, June 6.
• Through traffic on I-93 north will be directed through the median crossover near the Somerville/Medford line and then travel in counter-flow operation on the southbound side of the highway, separated from I-93 south traffic by the zipper barrier, before traveling through a second median crossover near Spot Pond in Stoneham. No shoulder lane will be available for traffic travelling on I-93 north within the 4.5 mile zipper lane.
• Immediately prior to the crossover, a local traffic lane will be provided on I-93 north to provide access to Exit 31 (Mystic Valley Parkway/Arlington) only. Drivers with local destinations via Exit 32 (Route 60/Salem Street – Medford Square/Malden) or Exit 33 (Roosevelt Circle – Route 28/Fellsway) should use Exit 29 (Route 28/38 – Somerville/Everett) and follow posted detour signing.
• Local traffic can access I-93 north using Route 60/Salem Street at Exit 32 or Route 28/Fellsway/Roosevelt Circle at Exit 33. Traffic entering I-93 north at these locations will travel within a single lane and will merge with I-93 north through traffic exiting the median crossover near Spot Pond in Stoneham. I-93 north will be restored to four lanes prior to Exit 34 (Route 28 North – Stoneham/Melrose).
Local Roadways
• Riverside Avenue under I-93 will be closed to through traffic from Friday, June 3 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 6 at 5:00 a.m. Only local traffic will be allowed to access Riverside Avenue. Drivers affected by the Riverside Avenue closure should follow posted detour routes on Route 60/Salem Street from the north and on Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway from the south.
• Route 28/Fellsway will be used as the primary local detour route for the duration of the weekend. Traffic signals along the corridor have been modified to address the increased traffic demands to the extent possible.
