Craigie Bridges

LivableStreets' proposed design for the Craigie Bridges

About the Project
On November 11, 2008, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced the reconstruction of the Cragie Dam Bridge and Craigie Drawbridge (next to the Museum of Science), with construction scheduled to being in Spring 2009. Along with the reconstruction, DCR plans to widen the sidewalk directly adjacent to the Museum from 6 feet to 10 feet to better accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists using the Charles River Paths, as well as restripe the roadway to include bike lanes in each direction. MassDOT has since taken over this project since the DCR bridges were transferred to MassDOT as part of the Transportation Reform Bill in 2009.
> Go to the DCR's Cragie Dam and Craigie Drawbridge Rehabilitation Project page.
> View the Craigie Bridges Public Meeting presentation from November 17, 2008.
> View the BU and Craigie Bridges Project Updates presentation from January 27, 2009.

Construction Schedule

LivableStreets' Efforts
LivableStreets urged advocates, city staff from Boston and Cambridge, and the public to attend the public meeting on November 17 to express the desire and need for better pedestrian and bicycle accommodation along the stretch of Route 28 that the bridges encompass, including:

• Keeping the car lanes narrow for safety (typically 10’), and give extra room to bicyclists and pedestrians
• Putting in either separated cycle tracks or striped bike lanes in both directions
• Adding a traffic light at the point in front of the museum where the future inlet bridge will be built
• Redesigning the museum entrances and exits
• Putting bike lanes through Leverett Circle and along Martha Road

Approximately 80 people attended the public meeting, many of whom spoke up and expressed a shared interest to include meaningful bicycle and pedestrian improvements in the project, particularly bike lanes. In part because of our efforts, DCR brought on a bicycle-pedestrian consultant to their team, and has since included bike lanes and pedestrian improvements throughout the project (in particular continuing the sidewalks across the Museum of Science driveways).

> Read our advocacy update for the Charles River Basin Bridges projects from December 2008.
> Read more about our Charles River Basin Campaign.
> Read more about the Accelerated Bridge Program.

LivableStreets' Correspondence

• LivableStreets Citizen Information Sheet for public meeting - November 16, 2008
• Craigie Bridges Proposed Improvements diagram - December 21, 2008

Media Coverage

• Cambridge Chronicle - Talk about Cragie Dam Bridge rehab project - November 10, 2008

More Information
To be added to the project mailing database, please contact:
Stephanie Boundy, Accelerated Bridge Program Public Outreach Coordinator
Tel: (617) 973-8049
Email: stephanie.boundy@state.ma.us

For more information about LivableStreets' efforts, please contact Jackie Douglas at jackie@livablestreets.info

> Read a memo from April 6, 2000 showing the effects of adding bike lanes to the bridge.
> Read minutes from the New Charles River Basin Citizens Advisory Meeting from July 18, 2000 regarding unbuilt pedestrian bridges.
> View a diagram of planned pedestrian bridges in the New Charles River Basin from February 29, 2000.
> View the plan for the Inlet Pedestrian Bridge from April 2000.
> Read a Boston Globe article from November 25, 2007 about the unbuilt pedestrian bridges.