NEW BEDFORD – MBTA communications staff now say the new $21 million pedestrian bridge over Rte is complete. 18 in New Bedford – originally estimated by the end of 2024 – can be expected in spring 2025, implying the same for the start of actual rail service to and from the South Coast.
“The project is 75% complete,” MBTA spokesperson Lisa Battiston wrote via email, noting that the project has gone smoothly so far. “The project has successfully completed the majority of work on State Highway and along both Acushnet Avenue and Purchase Street, with support from both the City of New Bedford and MassDOT.
“The work completed to date includes substantial progress on bridge construction, with the arch, deck and abutments substantially completed, along with the Purchase Street Plaza,” Battiston continued. “This phase included installing and removing formwork, installing bridge cables and installing electrical lines for permanent power and bridge/tower lighting.”
Vehicles travel north on Route 18 in New Bedford, under the new pedestrian bridge connecting Purchase Street to the new train station, as the old one can be seen in the distance.
Once completed, the pedestrian bridge, part of the South Coast Rail project, will provide easy access from the nearby Purchase Street neighborhood in New Bedford’s West End to the train station on Acushnet Avenue and the nearby Whale’s Tooth parking lot.
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According to previous reporting by the Standard-Times, work on the bridge began in the spring of 2023.
What has been completed so far on New Bedford’s new pedestrian bridge?
According to Battiston, work currently underway includes:
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The “Acushnet Avenue Plaza, including the completion of the elevator tower glass and elevator;
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“Pouring concrete for the Acushnet/Whales Tooth Plaza and stair tower and installing handrails and steps for the stairs leading to the pedestrian bridge;
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And “the finishing touches such as lighting, paving and landscaping….”
What about the old bridge?
When it comes to the existing nearby pedestrian bridge over Rte. On Oct. 18, Battiston said he did not expect it to last long after the new one was completed.
“Upon completion of the new pedestrian bridge, the contractor will demolish and remove the old bridge,” she wrote, noting the likely impact on traffic on Rte. 18 during demolition. “Any closure or detour will be announced and shared with the city well in advance.”
MBTA: The project should be completed in time for the launch of South Coast Rail
In terms of when that will be, Battiston did not provide an exact date or month, but wrote that MBTA’s current expectations are for “spring 2025, in line with the start of Commuter Rail passenger service.”
MBTA officials had shared in April that construction had been completed for new train stations in New Bedford, Middleboro, East Taunton, Freetown and Fall River, but certain system testing and certifications still needed to take place for things like culverts, grade crossings, intermediate stops and more so that rail service can begin.
Why will South Coast Rail pedestrian crossings be especially important?
Although the new bridge will cross road traffic rather than train tracks, project officials have emphasized the greater importance of individuals paying attention to where South Coast Rail’s designated pedestrian crossings are and strictly adhering to those access points when crossing the rails. Officials have suggested that this is partly due to the fact that modern rail systems are much faster and quieter than the trains of yesteryear.
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“People just aren’t used to it,” South Coast Rail/MassDOT project manager Jean Fox is quoted in that article. “When they see some test trains running, they will understand that safety is really critical, and they will understand what it means if they commit an infringement.”
This article originally appeared in the Standard-Times: New Bedford Pedestrian Bridge on Track to Finish in 2025
