Major work on South Coast Rail set to take place in Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford

Work on Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line

General Construction Activities to Commence

On December 14, the contractor received notice to proceed with construction along the Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line. Initially, the contractor will be performing survey work along the railroad right-of-way from Middleborough to New Bedford with more work to come in the weeks ahead.

Dates/Hours of Work
Current week: Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Next week: Monday, December 21 through Thursday, December 24, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM (No work Friday, December 25 due to holiday)

Work on Fall River Secondary Main Line

Delivery of Railroad Ties to Campanelli Drive in Freetown

Delivery of new railroad ties to the project construction lay-down yard on Campanelli Drive in Freetown is ongoing this week and next and will continue every few weeks until early 2021.

General Activities

This week and next, the contractor will continue with sewer work, tree clearing, erosion control, delivery and moving of materials, equipment mobilization, and survey work occurring along the Fall River Secondary Line right-of-way.

The contractor will continue to receive (via rail cars) sections of rail to be utilized along the Fall River Secondary Line right-of-way. Deliveries commenced this week in the Adams Lane area of Berkley and will advance south to Fall River through the end of the year.

Location of Work:
-Freetown Station site, 161 South Main Street, Assonet
-Fall River Depot site, 825 Davol Street, Fall River
-Weaver’s Cove Layover Facility at 2680 North Main Street, Fall River
-Fall River Secondary Line railroad right-of-way between Adams Lane in Berkley and Fall River Depot

Dates/Hours of Work:
-Current week: Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
-Next week: Monday, December 21 through Thursday, December 24, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM (No work Friday, December 25 due to holiday)

Retaining Wall Construction

The contractor will continue the installation of steel sheeting for retaining walls in the railroad right-of-way south of Adams Lane in Berkley to the Assonet River in Lakeville.

Dates/Hours of Work:
-Current week: Monday, December 14 through Saturday, December 19, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
-Next week: Monday, December 21 through Thursday, December 24, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (No work Friday, December 25 due to holiday)

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.

Bridge Replacements and Associated Track Work

Punch list and final inspection activity is continuing for the early action bridge replacement work with minimal impacts to traffic anticipated.

Please note that the City of New Bedford is also carrying out work in the Tarkiln Hill Road location for MassDOT Project #606709 (King’s Highway Reconstruction).

Please be advised that effective March 25, 2020, MassDOT, MBTA, and their consultants and contractors must maintain full compliance with the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Guidelines and Procedures for All Construction Sites and Workers at All Public Works Sites until further notice.

Additionally, as of Thursday November 19, 2020, all contractors and MBTA field staff shall follow the following COVID-19 guideline and procedure updates:

-Face coverings that comply with the latest CDC guidelines shall be worn at all times by all on-site contractor, sub-contractor, visitors, delivery persons and MBTA staff in accordance MBTA COVID-19 Face Covering and Workplace Protocols Policy issued on November 5.

-Contractors shall notify the MBTA Resident Engineer in writing within 1 hour of learning of a positive or presumptive positive COVID-19 case for an employee, worker, or any other individual associated with the site. In addition, the Contractor shall also file a MBTA Contractor Incident Report within 2 hours of a positive or presumptive positive COVID-19 case.

If you would like to report a construction-related issue on the South Coast Rail project, please call the hotline at (774) 762-7000. 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. We will respond to all complaints.