24 hour a day railroad track upgrades to take place in Fall River for South Coast Rail project

As part of the South Coast Rail Project construction, the MBTA’s contractor will be working continuously beginning Wednesday morning, June 9 until Monday morning, June 14 upgrading the existing tracks within the railroad right-of-way between Weaver Street and Cove Street in Fall River.

These track upgrades must be performed during freight rail outages that are coordinated with Mass Coastal Railroad, MassDOT’s freight rail operator. These interruptions in freight rail service typically occur over 5-day periods from Wednesday to Monday. During these outages, MBTA’s contractor works 24 hours a day to remove the existing track infrastructure and reinstall new track drainage, ballast, railroad ties and Continuously Welded Rail that will upgrade the line for both freight and future passenger rail service.

To prepare for the upcoming track outage, the contractor has been exporting material off of the railroad right-of-way to designated stockpile locations in Assonet and Fall River. While every effort will be made to minimize trucking outside the hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, additional overnight trucking is anticipated in order to complete the work within the allowed outage.

Work is also set to take place at the Construction Yard, 11 Campanelli Drive, Assonet and Weaver’s Cove Layover Facility, 2680 North Main Street, Fall River from 7:00 PM, Wednesday, June 9 until 7:00 AM, Thursday, June 10.

Ongoing MBTA work may be disruptive to residents. Crews are using various pieces of heavy equipment and trucks along the railroad right-of-way. While the project will seek to minimize construction-related impacts to communities, low to moderate noise levels and vibrations will be generated. In addition, work lights will be used during overnight hours.

If you would like to report a construction-related issue on the South Coast Rail project, call the hotline at (617) 222-4099. The hotline will be answered Monday-Friday, between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM (except holidays). All voicemails left outside of these hours will be received on the following 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM weekday shift.