Much work set to take place in Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, concerning South Coast Rail

The MassDOT and MBTA have issued an update on the upcoming work scheduled to take place on South Coast Rail in the coming weeks.

24-Hour/Day Track and Drainage Work

Next week, the contractor will work continuously from Wednesday, April 14 throughout the weekend within the railroad right-of-way in Freetown.

Location of Work:
Installation of track at the Freetown Station site located at 161 South Main Street and extending north to the Route 24 overpass

Dates/Hours of Work:
24 hours/day beginning 7:00 AM, Wednesday, April 14 until 6:00 AM, Monday, April 19

On April 17, the contractor will work continuously from early Saturday throughout the weekend within the railroad layover yard in Middleborough.

Location of Work:
Installing drainage lines under tracks at the Middleborough Layover Yard at 65 West Clark Street

Dates/Hours of Work:
Fall River and Freetown: 24 hours/day beginning 1:00 AM, Saturday, April 17 until 5:00 AM, Monday, April 19

Work on Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line

This week and next, the contractor will continue to install erosion controls along the right-of-way from the new Middleborough Station site to the East Taunton Station site. Tree clearing has now begun along the right-of-way from the East Taunton Station site heading south. Other ongoing work includes ground survey, site preparation, sheet pile wall installation, drainage and utility installation, and equipment, material and soil deliveries occurring at the station and layover sites and along the railroad right-of-way from Middleborough to New Bedford.

This week the contractor continues the installation of steel sheeting for retaining walls in the railroad right-of-way from I-495 in Middleborough to Old Colony Ave in Taunton.

Locations 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
Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford Main Line right-of-way

Dates/Hours of Work:
Current week: Monday, April 5 through Sunday, April 11, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Next week: Monday, April 12 through Sunday, April 18, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Work on Fall River Secondary Main Line

Railroad Right-of-way Access Road off Horizon Way in Fall River

The contractor is installing an access road off Horizon Way in Fall River. Starting this week, the contractor will prepare for this work by beginning tree clearing for the project access area off the end of Horizon Way. Clearing is expected to take place over the next two weeks. Later this spring, the contractor will begin preparing the access road to the right-of-way. The work zone will be secured to deter outside access.

This week and next, the contractor will continue to perform ground survey, install drainage and utilities, clear trees, install erosion controls, and material and equipment deliveries occurring along the right-of-way on the Fall River Secondary. The contractor also will install micro-piles at Collins Street Bridge in Fall River; there will be a 24 hour/day detour at Collins Street for the next 2 weeks – residents and users of the O’Connell Boat Yard can expect access to River Street to be limited to Clark Street only.

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

Dates/Hours of Work:
Current week: Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Next week: Monday, April 12 through Friday, April 16, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Retaining Wall Construction

The contractor continues the installation of steel sheeting for retaining walls in the railroad right-of-way from Beechwood Road to Forge Road in Freetown.

Installation of soldier piles and precast panels for retaining walls in the vicinity of the Freetown Station site also continues this week and next.

Dates/Hours of Work:
Current week: Monday, April 5 through Saturday, April 10, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Next week: Monday, April 12 through Saturday, April 17, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Culvert Work in Fall River

Next week, the contractor will remove and replace culvert FR-5 located adjacent to the Fall River Country Club golf course.

Dates/Hours of Work:
Next week: Wednesday, April 14 through Sunday, April 18, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

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.

If you would like to report a construction-related issue on the South Coast Rail project, you can 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.

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

The schedule for the project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.

The railroad right-of-way is an active construction zone and freight railroad. Only authorized personnel are allowed on the railroad right-of-way – trespassing is illegal. For your own safety, never walk on or cross the tracks.