Drivers on Interstates 90 and 495 will see more construction equipment during their commutes as work on improving the interchange connecting the two highways are underway, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
The construction work is part of a five-stage plan that seeks to replace the current interchange with a new one, improve travel time, and reduce traffic congestion and crash rates in the area. The project is scheduled to be finished by June 2027 with the second phase of construction set to begin soon, according to a MassDOT spokesperson.
“There is no set date when the project transitions into Stage 2, but based on the work, the crossover signals the start of moving into Stage 2,” the spokesman said. “Stage 1 work is formally scheduled to conclude by September of 2024.”
Located between Hopkinton and Westborough, the interchange is considered by MassDOT to be “key for freight and commerce.” The department’s website states that more than 100,000 vehicles travel on both I-90 and I-495 daily, including approximately half of the trucking that enters eastern Massachusetts.
The current design of the interchange concentrates traffic through a former toll booth plaza and several weaving parts — which the project is set to remove.
“Weaving parts are essentially where vehicles change lanes and merge as they enter, exit the highway or approach the old tolling area,” said a MassDOT spokesperson. “Therefore, eliminating the old toll booth area and improving the spacing and lanes mitigates queueing and crashes.”
A future design of the new I-90/I-495 interchange seen from above in a flyover video.
Courtesy of MassDOTMassDOT
While the work is underway, the department urges drivers to be ready for traffic changes in the area and to expect delays. On Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Fruit Street bridge will be closed while construction is underway, according to a press release by the department. The release reads that Fruit Street in Hopkinton will only be open to local traffic between North Street and Saddle Hill Road while detours are in place.
To mitigate any traffic impacts, all ramp connections between the two interstates will be maintained during construction, along with three lanes on mainlines — with the exception occurring during short-term closures during approved off-peak hours, according to the MassDOT website. Additionally, signage and markings will be in place to help direct drivers. During the night, temporary lighting will help drivers navigate the roads.
The department has also established a noise control plan that keeps noise at baseline sound levels throughout the project area.
The project also involves the construction of new ramps and bridges, including the replacement of the Fruit Street bridge over I-495 and the bridge that sits over Flanders Street. In total, the project costs $466 million, according to the spokesperson.
