South Coast Rail progressing, building demolitions to take place in Fall River, New Bedford, Middleboro

Moving into the summer months, additional construction is beginning on Phase 1 of South Coast Rail.

MassDOT’s contractor has now substantially completed the early action culvert replacements and related track work, wetland construction, and Tarkiln Hill Road grade crossing improvements that began in the spring of 2019. Although the contractor’s full-time work effort is expected to end after June 30, 2020, minor work efforts to address punch list items may be performed intermittently throughout the South Coast Rail Phase 1 Corridor on the New Bedford Main Line, Fall River Secondary, and Middleborough Secondary in the communities of Berkley, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Middleborough, New Bedford, Raynham, and Taunton between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays until MassDOT’s final acceptance of the project. This work is not expected to be disruptive to local residents or to impact access to local businesses or properties.

Although the South Coast Rail Early Action work at the Tarkiln Hill Road Grade Crossing is largely complete, the City of New Bedford is also carrying out work in the Tarkiln Hill Road location for MassDOT Project #606709 (King’s Highway Reconstruction).

Since 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.

MBTA’s contractor will be performing the following early action work as part of the building demolition contract to prepare for station and Main Line construction. The contract involves demolition of 12 structures at the following locations:

52 West Grove St. and 161 So. Main St., Middleborough;
91 Old Colony Ave. and 1141 County St., Taunton;
2&6 Wye St. and 3 Adams Ln., Berkley;
15 Richmond Rd., Freetown;
2804 No. Main St., 825 Davol St., and 61 Pearce St., Fall River; and
387 Church St., New Bedford

The contractor was given Notice to Proceed in Spring of 2020. The contract is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2020.

To date, the structure at 1141 County St., Taunton, has been demolished. 387 Church St., New Bedford, is scheduled to be demolished after preliminary site work has been completed. The next buildings anticipated for demolition are 61 Pearce St. and 825 Davol St. in Fall River.

Utility work required for demolition of the twelve structures is nearing completion with limited impacts to abutters.

MBTA’s Contractor has received Notice to Proceed on the Fall River Secondary Project and is currently submitting the required documentation for the project before field work can commence.