State says Longfellow Bridge roadwork now complete

(Globe File Photo)

The DCR says it has spent $12.5 million on fixes and inspections for the Longfellow Bridge, shown here in 2005.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Repairs on the Longfellow Bridge have been approved by the federal government, and the bridge will be completely reopened Friday morning, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation said today.

The department said it had spent more than $12.5 million on the fixup and inspections since August 2007, installing nearly 210 tons of new steel.

The bridge carries two lanes from Cambridge to Boston and two lanes in the other direction, as well as Red Line trains. In June, the inside lanes were closed on both sides of the bridge, and large trucks were barred. In September, the Boston-to-Cambridge inside lane reopened and trucks were permitted in that direction.

The DCR said the Cambridge-to-Boston inside lane will now reopen and trucks will be permitted in that direction, meaning the bridge is back to normal.

"We are delighted to be able to reopen the lane and remove the truck restriction," DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. said in a statement. "DCR crews have worked around the clock ... to make the repairs and ensure public safety on this important part of the Charles River Basin transportation infrastructure."

The next step in bridge repairs will be work on the sidewalk on the Cambridge-to-Boston side of the bridge. DCR spokeswoman Wendy Fox said that the sidewalk has been closed since June and will remain closed until the work is done. Officials hope to have the work done by the Fourth of July. The work will not hinder traffic, she said.

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