'Add-a-Lane' project on Route 128 to open extra lane Wednesday

By Natalie Feulner, Town Correspondent

Drivers along Route 128 in the Dedham/Westwood area will have an extra lane to use starting Wednesday at 5 a.m.

Michael Verseckes, spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, said the department plans to open parts of the new fourth travel lane in that area, starting Wednesday. However, it is still possible for weather to delay the openings of other areas Thursday and Friday.

“Things are in a flux because of this weather,” Verseckes said. “If it keeps raining, it may get bumped back.”

The fourth lane will be created by replacing the breakdown lane. Crews have been working on the $41 million “Add A Lane” project in the area for months.

The construction is part of a larger $350 million project that has been in the works about four years and includes new fourth lanes to both sides of the highway from Route 24 in Randolph to Route 9 in Wellesley.

A fifth lane in each direction is also being added as part of an Interstate 95/Interstate 93 and Route 138 project. However, it is not completed yet and will not open this week.

Here's a look at the openings schedule for this week:

-- The section of I-93 North between I-95 at Exit 1 in Canton and Route 24 at Exit 4 in Randolph, will open at 5 a.m. Wednesday

-- The section of I-95 South between University Avenue at Exit 13 and I-93 North at Exit 12 in Canton will open at 5 a.m. on Thursday

-- The section of I-95 South between a point just south of Route 109 at Exit 16 and University Avenue at Exit 13 will open at 5 a.m. on Friday

For updates from MassDOT follow them on Twitter using the @massdot handle or online at http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog.

Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.