Heads Up, Dorchester: Multi-Year Overnight Repairs Coming to I-93 Near JFK/UMass
A major stretch of highway that cuts through Dorchester is headed for a multi-year overhaul, with state transportation officials green-lighting an extensive repair project near the JFK/UMass area that will bring overnight construction to Interstate 93 starting this spring.
According to State House News, the MassDOT Board of Directors’ Capital Programs Committee has approved a $21.6 million plan to repair and preserve bridge structures and ramps near the JFK/UMass station. Work is expected to begin this spring and continue through the fall of 2028.
The project focuses on long-term structural fixes, including replacing bridge joints and worn surfaces, patching concrete decks, and repairing barriers and railings. All work will take place overnight, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., to limit daytime disruption.
MassDOT officials said the repairs are needed to address deterioration that has led to water leaking onto steel structures below the roadway. The ramps included in the project also serve key neighborhood destinations, including the John F. Kennedy Library and the Red Line stop at JFK/UMass.
Because construction will take place over active MBTA tracks, MassDOT is coordinating closely with the T to secure permits and work within operational restrictions.
The project will be funded through federal Highway Infrastructure Program dollars. While MassDOT’s initial estimate came in at $17.3 million, additional costs for traffic management, police details, construction engineering, and contingencies bring the total budget to $21.6 million.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
MassDOT wasting tax payers money again. Wonder how many kickbacks and bribes they took to pass this. They should have repaint those structures over 20 years ago. It is cheaper to paint than other work. Other city paint things on a 5 year cycle. Structures last longer.