Route 30 Over the Charles Bridge Replacement and Corridor Reconstruction

HSH is the lead traffic and civil engineer for a bridge replacement and corridor reconstruction project for Route 30 (Commonwealth Avenue) over the Charles River. Included as part of this project is interchange modifications with I-95 and a relocation of an on-ramp from a bridge over I-95. HSH’s roadway alignment design reclaims unusable space held within the existing median over the existing bridge to provide high-quality and safe shared spaces including a 12-foot-wide sidepath bike and pedestrian facility. The project requires a development of the construction phasing for staged bridge construction that includes temporary signalized intersections and provides a plan to complete all improvements with minimal impact to abutters and the public. HSH’s community engagement focuses on communication with project stakeholders including the community, advocates, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and municipal officials to develop a design that meets the future goals for all users of the corridor. HSH has developed an Interchange Modification Report for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as part of this effort. To facilitate the project to an approved design, HSH compiled the Early Environmental Coordination Form, CE Checklist, and WQDF for approval with MassDOT and FHWA. Additionally, the work to reconstruct the bridge over the Charles River required temporary wetland imapcts of Land Under Water/Waters of the United States. The proposed impacts are due to the replacement of exisitng stone revetment with M2.02.2 rip rap to reduce potential eroision following completion of the bridge substructure. A 401 Water Quaility Certification application with a Stormwater Management Report and 404 United States Army Corps of Engineers Self Verification Notification were filed and approved. HSH prepared permit applications, technical reports, and permit plans. HSH hired a subcontractor to perform the wetland delineation.