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City of Worcester, MA

Eric D. Batista
City Manager

PSA: Traffic Alert for Harrison Street Bridge Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/6/2026 4:03 pm

WORCESTER, Mass. –  The City of Worcester is sharing the following update of scheduled work regarding the bridge beam setting for Harrison Street stage 1. The main impact will be a one week full closure of Harrison Street at the bridge over I-290. The street is currently one-way only over the bridge.

The schedule and impacts for this work will be as follows:

  • Friday morning 5/8 at 7 a.m. A full closure of Harrison St. at the bridge will be implemented. This will also require closure of the portion of the I-290 WB (exit 18) off ramp to Harrison St. (the portion of the ramp to Water St. will remain open). This closure of Harrison St. is to remain in effect until Friday morning 5/15. During this time, pedestrian access will be maintained across the bridge.
     
  • Friday 5/8 The contractor will begin preparations to mobilize a crane to the west side of the bridge on Harrison St. In addition, three trailers carrying the steel beams will be mobilized to the Harrison St. area in preparation for placement Sunday night.
     
  • Sunday 5/10 The crane will be fully mobilized to the west side of the bridge. After 10 p.m. the two right lanes on I-290 WB will be closed. The I-290 WB exits 17 and 18 will also be closed. The I-290 EB two left lanes will be closed. 
     
  • Monday morning 5/11 Starting at 12 a.m. (midnight) periodic rolling roadblocks with State Police will be performed on I-290 EB and WB to close the remaining active lanes as each beam is picked, set, and secured. Traffic will be allowed after each beam is secured. At 5 a.m., the I-290 traffic will fully open.
     
  • Monday night 5/11 Work will continue setting beams and supports. Traffic impacts will be the same as the previous Sunday night.
     
  • Tuesday 5/12 Contractor to mobilize a new crane on the east side of the bridge. Harrison St bridge remains closed.
     
  • Tuesday night 5/12 through Thursday night 5/14 The I-290 EB two left lanes will be closed starting at 10 p.m. No closures on I-290 WB. Starting at 12 a.m. midnight periodic rolling roadblocks with State Police will be performed on I-290 EB  to close the remaining active lane as each beam is picked, set, and secured. Traffic will be allowed after each beam is secured.  At 5 a.m., the I-290 traffic will fully open.
     
  • Friday morning 5/15 The crane will be demobilized. Harrison St. traffic will be reopened around 7 a.m.

All construction activity can be tracked on the municipality's Engineering webpage.