MassDOT issues update on work taking place on South Coast Rail

With the South Coast Rail project set to restore commuter rail service between Boston and southeastern Massachusetts by the end of 2023, here is an update on the work taking place in Middleborough, Lakeville, Raynham, Taunton, Assonet, Fall River, Berkley, and New Bedford.

Freetown: Full Road Closure/Detour, Single-Lane Closures and 24-Hour/Day Work at East Chipaway Road Railroad Crossing
Location of work: Work at the railroad grade crossing at East Chipaway Road in Freetown

Dates/Hours of Work: •Single-lane closures Monday, October 17 to Wednesday, October 19•24-hours/day work Thursday, October 20 to Wednesday, October 26 •Full road closure/detour Thursday, October 20 to Wednesday, October 26

Fall River: Extended Work Hours at Fall River Depot
Location of work: Station work at the Fall River Depot site (825 Davol Street)

Dates/Hours of Work: Extended hours, Monday, October 17 to Sunday October 23, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Middleborough, Lakeville, Raynham, Taunton: Extended Work Hours
Location of work: Track work along the Middleborough Secondary Line railroad right-of-way at locations between Route 140 in Taunton and the new Middleborough Station site (161 South Main Street, Middleborough)

Dates/Hours of Work: Extended hours Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Middleborough: Overnight Roadwork and Single-lane Closures on Route 105 (South Main Street)
Location of work: Roadwork near the New Middleborough Station site (161 South Main Street) on Route 105 south of Route 28 near the I-495 on/off ramps

Dates/Hours of Work: •Overnight watermain work, Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25 •Single-lane closures on Route 105 on weekdays, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Taunton: Shoulder Closure for Curb and Sidewalk Installation on Route 140 (County Street) Southbound
Location of work: Shoulder of Route 140 (County Street) on the southbound side between Taunton Depot Drive and Mozzone Boulevard

Dates/Hours of Work: October 24 through October 28, Weekdays, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM

For roadway-construction issues related to this Route 140 work please call 423-375-4086.

New Bedford: 24-Hour/Day Track Work from Tarkiln Hill Road to Nash Road
Location of work: Track work in railroad right-of-way from Tarkiln Hill Road to Nash Road in New Bedford

Dates/Hours of Work: 24-hour/day work, Thursday, October 27 through Tuesday, November 1

Fall River: Detour for Work at Pearce Street
Location of work: Pearce Street, Fall River

Dates/Hours of Work: Road closure/detour of Pearce Street (at Dyer Street) continues Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Fencing Installation: Middleborough, Lakeville, Raynham, Taunton, Assonet, Fall River, Berkley, and New Bedford
Location of work: •Installation of fencing along the Middleborough Secondary Line railroad right-of-way at locations between Route 140 in Taunton and the new Middleborough Station site (161 South Main Street, Middleborough) •Installation of fencing along the Fall River Secondary Line railroad right-of-way at locations between the Weaver’s Cove Layover Facility site (2680 North Main Street) in Fall River and the Fall River Depot site (825 Davol Street) in Fall River •Installation of fencing along the New Bedford Main Line railroad right-of-way at locations between the East Taunton Station site (1141 County Street) in Taunton and the New Bedford Station Site (Acushnet Avenue at Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot) in New Bedford

Dates/Hours of Work: Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Berkley: Railroad Access at Cotley Street
Location of work: Cotley Street in Berkley

Dates/Hours of Work: Please note that the contractor will be using Cotley Street to access the right-of-way for various work activities. This access will be primarily used during the daytime (7:00 AM-7:00 PM) but will also be used 24-hours/day during some activities.

Berkley: Railroad Work at Myricks Street
Location of work: Work in the railroad right-of-way in the area of Myricks Street in Berkley

Dates/Hours of Work: Typically, Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Please note that although regular daytime construction hours begin at 7:00 AM, abutters may notice crews arriving at the construction sites prior to this time.

Middleborough Rail Yard Work
Please be advised that as part of the South Coast Rail Project, Mass Coastal Railroad will be making improvements to the Middleborough Rail Yard at Station Street in Middleborough. Generally, crews will be working Monday through Friday during daytime hours.

Daytime Work on Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line
Construction is ongoing at station and layover sites and along the railroad right-of-way from Middleborough to New Bedford.

Location of Work: •New Middleborough Station site, 161 South Main Street, Middleborough •East Taunton Station site, 1141 County Street, Taunton •Wamsutta Layover Facility site, 217 Herman Melville Boulevard, New Bedford •Church Street Station site, 387 Church Street, New Bedford • New Bedford Station Site, Acushnet Avenue (at Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot), New Bedford •Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line right-of-way

Dates/Hours of Work: •Monday, October 17 through Sunday, October 23, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM •Monday, October 24 through Friday, October 28, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Please note that although regular daytime construction hours begin at 7:00 AM, abutters may notice crews arriving at the construction sites prior to this time.

Daytime Work on Fall River Secondary Line
Location of work: •Adams Lane, Berkley •Freetown Station site, 153 South Main Street, Assonet •Weaver’s Cove Layover Facility, 2680 North Main Street, Fall River •Turner Street Railroad Bridge, Fall River •Fall River Depot site, 825 Davol Street, Fall River •Fall River Secondary Line railroad right-of-way

Dates/Hours of Work: •Monday, October 17 through Wednesday, October 19, and Sunday October 23, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM •Monday, October 24 through Wednesday, October 26, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Please note that although regular daytime construction hours begin at 7:00 AM, abutters may notice crews arriving at the construction sites prior to this time.

Construction is ongoing at station and layover sites and along the railroad right-of-way from Berkley to Fall River.

Extended Hours for Daytime Work on Fall River Secondary Line
Dates/Hours of Work: •Thursday, October 20 to Saturday October 22, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM •Thursday, October 27 to Saturday October 29, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Extended hours to accommodate track work along the railroad right-of-way from Berkley to Fall River.

Daytime Transportation of Soils
Please note that soils excavated from the railroad right-of-way and roadways during the above work are typically transported during the day by truck to designated project sites.

Dates/Hours of Work: •Regular daytime hours 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

If you would like to report a construction-related issue on the South Coast Rail project, please call the hotline at (617) 222-4099.