Nighttime Work Advisory
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As a follow-up to the MBTA’s recent announcement that the Lowell Commuter Rail Line will be out of service until May 24, 2020, please be advised that the GLX project will take advantage of the additional track time to further advance construction along much of the rail corridor.

Beginning tonight, Friday, May 15, the project will ramp up construction around-the-clock in many areas from College Ave in Medford to the Washington Street Bridge in East Somerville.

Notable areas of intensified 24-hour activity include:

Between Harvard Street and College Avenue in Medford:  Beginning around midnight tonight, May 15, work will be concentrated in the vicinity of the Tufts Interlock (the track switch) along the MBTA corridor near Colby Street.  Crews will be installing an under drain in that area that runs across and beneath the tracks and work will continue day and night for the next 10 days.  A trench under the tracks will be done as a cut-and-cover operation meaning an open trench will be dug that requires removing and replacing a section of track. Expect elevated noise levels in this area due to the movement of heavy machinery.  Gasoline powered hand tools which are known to be noisy will be in service for a few hours to cut the track.

Gilman Square:  At the Medford St. Bridge, workers are building the new abutment on the Walnut St. side of the bridge while track level workers reinforce the original abutment that will become the center pier.  On School Street Bridge, foundation drilling for the new abutment will begin on the Montrose Street side of the bridge.

North and South of the Sycamore Street Bridge in Somerville:  Beginning early Saturday morning, May 16, a drainpipe will be installed crossing under the tracks beneath the bridge which will require cutting, removing, and replacing a section of track.  The cutting of track requires the use of gasoline powered hand tools.  Expect elevated noise levels which may be disruptive for a few hours until the track is removed. North of School St., drilling will begin on the large retaining wall behind homes on Montrose St.

Magoun Square to Ball Square: Behind Maxwell’s Green on Lowell St., construction will continue on the retaining wall near the future Magoun Square Station.  The main focus of activity in this zone is preparing for the commuter line track shift which is scheduled to happen before the end of May.  The shift starts just south of Cedar St., near Murdock Street and continues up to Harvard St.  A significant amount of drainage, wall construction and track bed work are being completed along the east side of the corridor to make this shift possible.

During all phases of construction taking place around-the-clock in the Lowell Line rail corridor, the yellow multi-purpose machine MPM (a long piece of heavy construction machinery on rail cars) will be staging work. Federal railroad regulations require the vehicle to sound its horn during stops and starts.

We apologize for any disruption caused by this work and appreciate your patience as we deliver this long-planned transit project to the area.

For more detailed information on meeting notices and construction updates, please visit Mass.gov/GLX or email us at info@glxinfo.com.

For urgent matters, please call the GLX Hotline at 855-GLX-INFO (459-4636).

— Massachusetts Department of Transportation