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State details afternoon impacts from rainstorm on roads and the MBTA

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 15, 2010 04:01 PM

Photo courtesy of MBTA

The deluge washed out a track bed under the Green Line tracks in Newton.

By Noah Bierman and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

Virtually every mode of transportation was affected, if not completely shut down, as a result of the storm. Flooded and wet roads led to car crashes, late buses, and closed subway lines throughout the morning.

And unlike a snow storm, where school kids and workers often stay home, this storm left many commuters on roads and trains, testing the limits of the system.

“People are just kind of slogging through it,” said Jeff Larson, general manager of SmartRoute Systems, a traffic monitoring service. “It was easily double to normal drive time on most of the area roads.”

This afternoon, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its summary of closures, lanes changes and an update on the MBTA so people can prepare for this evening's commute.

"The storm and storm-related flooding is expected to have significant travel impacts in Eastern Massachusetts throughout the afternoon and evening, including the afternoon commute,'' the DOT said in a statement. "Residents and commuters are urged to travel safely, plan ahead and seek alternative routes if possible.''

STORM-RELATED HIGHWAY/ROADWAY CLOSURES:
· EXPECT DELAYS AT ROUTE 128 EXIT 27B RAMP BECAUSE OF FLOODING. After working all night MassDOT crews have re-opened the Exit 27B exit ramp on Route 95/128SB at Winter St. The area typically experiences extensive traffic delays and congestion during the morning commute and the flooding-related activity and lane closures on Winter Street as a result of the flooding should be expected to cause further delays as commuters try to access business parks located on 1st and 2nd Avenues.
1 CLOSURES NEAR ROUTE 2 NEAR ALEWIFE BECAUSE OF FLOODING: The exit ramp leading to the Alewife MBTA Station off Route 2 Eastbound is closed because of flooding and will likely remain closed during the morning commute. Route 2 itself is flooding. Traffic is passing, but expect delays. Additionally, Route 16 between Massachusetts Avenue and Route 2 in Arlington/Cambridge is currently closed due to flooding.
2 TOPSFIELD ROUTE 1 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS – IPSWICH RIVER FLOODING: Route 1 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds will remain closed in both directions because the Ipswich River has overtopped the roadway. Rte. 1 in Topsfield near the Danvers town line remains closed because of slope erosion/retaining wall failure. The Highway Division expects to have that stretch of roadway near the Danvers line open in time for the evening commute.
3 SIX DCR ROADWAYS ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF STORM-RELATED FLOODING: Mystic Valley Parkway in both directions between Main Street and Mystic Avenue in Winchester; Lynnfells Parkway in both directions between Tremont Street and Melrose Street in Melrose, sections of Furnace Brook Parkway. For more information visit: www.mass.gov/dcr.
4 SHORT BEACH (Winthrop Parkway from Broadsount Ave. in Revere to Revere St. in Winthrop);
5 MORRISSEY BLVD in both directions in Dorchester between Tolman Street and Conley Street near Tenean Beach.
6 MORTON STREET in Dorchester between Harvard St. and rotary at Casey Overpass (near Forest Hills T stop).
7 BILLERICA ROUTE 3A CLOSED AT SHAWSHEEN RIVER: Billerica, Route 3A at Shawsheen River (north of Cook St.) closed.
8 ROUTE 110, CHELMSFORD CLOSED: Route 110 Chelmsford is closed from Chelmsford Center to Hunt Road due to flooding of an adjacent brook that washed out 10-15 feet of roadway edge. Repairs will not be possible until the water recedes.
9 BRYANT AVE. RAMP OFF ROUTE 93SB IN MILTON CLOSED.
10 ROUTE 20 AT ROUTE 27 IN WAYLAN CLOSED BECAUSE OF SUDBURY RIVER FLOODING.
11 WASHINGTON ST IN WOBURN CLOSED AT SALEM STREET (Aberjona River).
12 ROUTE 28 IN ANDOVER CLOSED AT N. READING TOWN LINE.
13 ROUTE 38 SOUTHBOUND IN TEWKSBURY CLOSED AT SHAWSHEEN STREET.
14 ROUTE 16 IN HOLLISTON CLOSED.
15 ROUTE 135 IN NATICK CLOSED FROM MILL TO SPEEN STREETS, LOCAL DETOUR IN EFFECT.

·       STORM-RELATED LANE CLOSURES:
·       Wilmington - Route 38 SB south of Route 62 (1st travel lane closed)
1       Lincoln - Route 2 EB at Lexington Road 1st travel and BDL closed
2       Lincoln - Route 2A EB at Brooks Road - shoulder closure
3       Burlington - Route 95/128 SB at Route 3A - bdl closed
4       Westport Rte 6WB - Adjacent Brook over-flowing onto roadway. Crews on scene monitoring.

MBTA TRANSIT/COMMUTER RAIL DELAYS:
· GREEN LINE D BRANCH SERVICE DELAYS: MBTA is getting ready to resume service between Fenway to Kenmore. Service should be restored in time for the evening commute.
1 GREEN LINE D BRANCH DELAYS: Because of a large sinkhole under the tracks between Chestnut Hill and Newton Center Station on the D branch of the Green Line, buses are replacing train service between Riverside and Reservoir Stations – in both directions. Repairs are expected to take several days.
2 COMMUTER RAIL DELAYS: The Lowell Line is experiencing delays because of flooding at Wilmington Station. Wilmington Station closed because of flooding. The Framingham/Worcester line, Franklin Line, Providence/Stoughton lines all experiencing 15-20 minute delays.
3 BUS DELAYS AND REROUTING: Bus routes 16, 79, 215 & 350 being rerouted because of local flooding conditions.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles Revere Branch has re-opened.