Construction is expected to be completed with the placement of
landscaping and fencing in August 2009. The section of trail under
construction extends from the Lowell/Chelmsford line near Cross Point,
through Chelmsford Center, to the intersection of Route 27 and Route
225 in Westford.
Please stay off the rail trail corridor during construction, to avoid
injury from equipment, debris, and other hazards created by the
construction process. Heavy equipment is used during construction and
the entire rail corridor is considered a work zone.
The superstructures of three of the four bridges have been removed. The
surface of the fourth bridge will be removed in the coming weeks. No
explosives are used during the removal process. The original bridge
wingwalls and abutments are preserved and are being reconditioned.
Once reconditioning is complete, new bridge superstructures will be
installed.
Please avoid areas containing bridges. All four bridges are in
Chelmsford. There is one bridge between Chelmsford Center and High
Street, two bridges between High Street and Maple Road, and one bridge
between Lakeside Avenue and Westview Avenue.
Removal of the ties is nearly complete. Preliminary grading is
expected to occur later this spring. Work on the bridges is expected
to continue into the summer.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rail Trail
Construction are available here.
4/10/2008
Current Project Status
Erosion Control fence installation completed.
Clearing operation is complete. (January 7, 2008)
Track Removal is complete.
Bridge Demolition on 3 of the 4 bridges complete.
Track Timber Tie removal began on 4/7/08.
Reconstruction of the bridge abutments for the bridges at Lakeside Ave, Bertucci’s, and south of Blaisdell Rd began week of 3-31-08. This work includes survey layout and reinforcing steel installation. Concrete placement for the reconstructed abutments tentatively scheduled for week of 4-21-08.
Additional Information
Tie removal operation will continue for approximately 3 weeks and will occur in various areas of the project.
Another crew is working ahead of the tie removal crew to pick up any remaining pieces of track plates and spikes left over from the track removal operation.
Bridge reconstruction will continue into the summer months.
The number for the answering machine in the Resident Engineer's
field
office is 978-256-3947. Please leave the following information: name,
daytime phone number, address (for abutters), email address (optional),
and a one or two sentence description of the reason for the call.
An email address will lead to a quicker initial response. We will
research the question and get back to you. We ask that you review the
information on the website before calling.
While waiting for a response, please keep in mind that the Resident
Engineer is working on multiple projects.
