Cradock Bridge Reconstruction Design Unveiled

MassDOT officials and Medford legislative delegation members were on hand Tuesday night to present the Medford City Council new plans for the reconstruction of the Cradock Bridge.

The historic bridge is a major one for travel into and out of Medford Square, carrying traffic over the Mystic River on Main Street near the on- and off-ramps to Route 16.

A temporary bridge is part of the plans, as part of an effort by engineers to minimize the impact on traffic and local businesses.

The temporary bridge would extend from a temporary Route 16 off-ramp, over the river to Clippership Drive, with access to Riverside Avenue for vehicles turning left.

Two southbound lanes of Main Street on the Cradock Bridge will be maintained during construction under this plan. The temporary bridge would accommodate northbound traffic.

Current plans have the project commencing in the spring of 2014. There are two phases to the plans right now, the first reconstructing the southbound lanes of the bridge and the second working on the northbound lanes.

Earlier iterations of the reconstruction had the project taking close to three and a half years to complete. The current plan would take two years to finish, according to officials.

"I think this is a tremendous plan," said Medford Rep. Paul Donato. "It's a plan that's not only going to allow for the flow of traffic but it's going to allow for probably one-third of the time frame to be taken off."

Donato called the project "necessary" based on the condition of the bridge and downstream flooding issues.

Flooding problems that stretch into Winchester, East Arlington and West Medford are expected to be addressed by the project. Concrete panels that impede the flow of water at the bridge will be removed and enlarge the bridge's hydraulic opening.

MassDOT engineer Paul King told the council the original plan included "six-plus" phases for the project.

"We took a hard look at, 'what can we do to improve this for the city?'" King said, which led to the idea of the temporary bridge.

According to the state's Accelerated Bridge Program, which was updated in December, the budget for the project is approximately $12.7 million.

King said the design is still not complete and a 25 percent design public hearing is expected to be held in the coming weeks.

Councilor Bob Penta asked if the state had begun formulating plans for mitigation for businesses who may experience financial damage due to the project.

Donato said that was part of ongoing discussions.

Councilor Paul Camuso pointed to the success of MassDOT's Fast14 project, which replaced 14 superstructures along I-93 in Medford in rapid succession in the summer of 2011, in saying with confidence the Cradock Bridge project will go smoothly.

"We're in good hands," Camuso said.

Lauren DiLorenzo, Medford's Office of Community Development director, said she hopes her office can have more imput on the project before it goes to a public hearing.

"This is the first time I've seen this plan," she said, adding local historical interest groups have also hoped to have input.

Councilor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said she hoped the state and Medford's ODC would be able to more closely coordinate efforts going ahead.

John Costas of Medford Electronics on Salem Street, and the president-elect of the Medford Chamber of Commerce, thanked the officials for working hard to minimize the impact on Medford Square's businesses.

"It has to be done," Costas said of the project.

The original bridge was built 1637, rebuilt in 1880 and again in 1909, according to a Medford Historical Society sign on the bridge. The original wooden drawbridge was the first toll bridge in New England.