On Wednesday, April 25 the Department of Transportation held an information system about the I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvement Project. The project to improve the interchange is about to begin, and will include demolishing the Fruit Street bridge and building a ramp near the Cumberland Farms on Flanders Road in Westborough.

Beginning Monday, May 8, MassDOT workers will begin to take the bridge apart, working in overnight shifts. The work is expected to last three weeks. During this time Fruit Street will be open to local traffic only between North Street and Saddle Hill Road while detours are in place, which will be required at times by the demolition work.

More than 75,000 vehicles pass through the interchange every day. It was originally designed for toll plazas, which is why the lanes converge so closely. But this results in long lines and an accident rate twice the state average. MassDOT’s goals are to reduce crashes in the area, reduce congestion and reduce travel time through the interchange.

The project will replace the interchange; eliminate the old toll booth area and weaving areas; improve ramp spacing, acceleration and deceleration lanes; and add an auxiliary lane from I-495 northbound to Route 9. New bridges will be constructed on I-495 over I-90; on I-495 and I-90 over the MBTA/CSX/Amtrak lines; on I-495 northbound over Flanders Road and on Fruit Street. 

The project is expected to be completed by June 2027. More information is available, and you can subscribe to receive project updates at the project’s website.