About the Tobin Bridge: Repair work

Find out more about completed activities, future work, and notable updates.

Table of Contents

Overview

Work is currently underway on an approximately $128 million- project for Tobin Bridge – the last of four safety projects to repair steel, remove old paint and repaint the bridge. Work includes:

  • Putting up temporary protective shielding/work platforms
  • Cleaning steel, removing old paint, and repainting
  • Making repairs to existing steel superstructure elements and substructure concrete elements

The contract requires many monitoring and mitigation measures for air quality, lead paint, soil, noise, and dust. Impacts to traffic will be limited with no permanent lane closures and limited impacts to adjacent roadways.

Completed work

A shielding and netting system has been installed on the upper and lower deck structures to help contain any additional paint chips that may fall from the bridge.

A section of the Tobin Bridge in Chelsea encased in a netting system to catch any falling paint chips.
A section of the Tobin Bridge in Chelsea encased in a netting system to catch any falling paint chips.

Current work

Current work Crews are currently carrying out the following activities:

  • Removing old coatings of paint on the bridge and applying a new primer coat
  • Installing temporary work zones including line striping and placing shoulder barriers
  • Removing safetywalk concrete
A section of the Tobin Bridge in Chelsea encased in a netting system to catch any falling paint chips.

Upcoming operations

In the coming months, MassDOT's contractor will begin work including:

  • Substructure repairs
  • Installation of new steel safetywalk
  • Steel repairs to superstructure elements

Traffic impacts

Impacts to traffic on the Tobin Bridge will be limited with only lane closures during off-peak hours during the day and night shifts.

Closures will occur weekly, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the southbound direction (upper deck) and single lane closure in the northbound direction (lower deck) from 6:00 a.m., to 2 p.m.

There will also be a nightly lane closure in the southbound direction (upper deck).

These closures will be coordinated with other construction projects in the area.

City of Chelsea Traffic Information

Details on any local lane closures in the City of Chelsea can also be found online.

Contact   for About the Tobin Bridge: Repair work

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