MBTA Awards $1.06 Billion Deal to Replace Historic Charles River Rail Bridges

The MBTA bridge replacement at North Station will be managed by Skanska USA Civil under a $1.06 billion contract. The work includes the North Station Draw One bridge replacement. It also covers related track and signal upgrades in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

VHB, an engineering, planning and design company, will serve as Skanska’s design partner under the design-build contract.

MBTA bridge replacement scope at North Station

The project includes replacing the existing Draw One bascule bridges, which date from the 1930s, with vertical lift spans. The work is intended to significantly modernize rail operations across the Charles River. It also includes extensive improvements to the approach trestles. A new Tower A control facility and an additional Platform F at North Station are also included.

“These improvements are designed to streamline operations, enhance system flexibility and reliability, and support long-term ridership growth across MBTA’s north-side commuter-rail network,” Skanska officials said in a press release.

Track, signal and control upgrades

Skanska and VHB will also manage comprehensive upgrades to track, signals and positive train control. The work is intended to improve MBTA safety, resiliency and operational efficiency. In addition, the authority’s corridor will be expanded from four tracks to six across the river. The change is intended to reduce congestion and improve service reliability.

Work is scheduled to begin this month. Completion is expected in fall 2032.

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