MassDOT announces Route 79 bridges, walls, roadway to be demolished this week, cause detours

MassDOT has announced that the demolition of bridges, retaining walls, and removal of the raised roadway and supporting soil of the high-speed expressway of Route 79 northbound and southbound from Veterans’ Memorial Bridge to the Fall River Heritage State Park is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 29.

Detours will be in place for the demolition of the bridges for Route 79 over the southern U-turn. Northbound to southbound detours will be in place starting March 29. Southbound to northbound detours will be in place starting April 3. All detour routes and other traffic changes will be clearly signed and marked. Only one cross-street detour will occur at a time.

Please note the schedule for these major infrastructure projects is dependent on weather and COVID-19 guidelines and subject to change without notice.

Detour Routes
*Detours are not concurrent and subsequent notice will be given prior to implementation of individual detours

Vehicles seeking to use cross-streets should utilize the following detours:

Southern U-turn bridge

Davol Street southbound to Davol Street northbound

-Proceed south to the signalized intersection of Water Street/Central Street.
-At the intersection, turn right and follow Water Street.
-Take the second left onto Anawan Street.
-At the next traffic signal, turn left onto Western Fall River Expressway/Route 70 northbound/Route 138 northbound.
-Proceed north through the next traffic signal.
-Continue to your destination.

Davol Street northbound to Davol Street southbound

-Proceed north to the President Avenue signalized intersection.
-Turn left onto President Avenue.
-Turn left again at Davol Street southbound.
-Proceed south on Davol Street.
-Continue to your destination.

Pedestrians and bicyclists seeking to use cross-streets should utilize the following detours:

Southern U-turn bridge

Davol Street southbound to Davol Street northbound

-Travel north along the sidewalk on Davol Street to Turner Street.
-A temporary crosswalk is signed and marked to cross Davol Street northbound and southbound.
-Proceed across Davol Street southbound and use the temporary sidewalk to cross the infield.
-Cross Davol Street southbound to City Pier.
-Continue to your destination.

Davol Street northbound to Davol Street southbound

-Travel north along the sidewalk on Davol Street past City Pier.
-A temporary crosswalk is signed and marked to cross Davol Street southbound and northbound.
-Proceed across Davol Street southbound and use the temporary sidewalk to cross the infield.
-Cross Davol Street northbound to Turner Street.
-Continue to your destination.

Davol Street and Route 79 run along the Taunton Riverfront in Fall River. Currently, access between the neighborhoods and the waterfront is limited and the corridor lacks bicycle accommodations. MassDOT is redesigning the mile-long corridor to improve mobility, connectivity, and safety along and across Route 79 and Davol Street. The corridor will be transformed into a multi-modal urban boulevard, connecting the neighborhoods to the Taunton River while promoting economic growth by creating new development parcels to contribute to economic development.