I-93 Construction Project Causing Headaches For Drivers

MEDFORD (CBS) - Mass confusion, roads closing, ramps closing; it'll be a summer ritual on I-93 north of Boston. Drivers will be forced to detour around the state's accelerated bridge program.

"I'm trying to get to Arlington and I'm lost," said one driver who had to stop a police detail for directions.

Fourteen sections of bridge are being replaced along I-93 in Medford this summer as part of a project that should be finished by labor day. The crumbling bridge decks are being replaced with prefabricated segments to move the project along.

"We've developed these ways to do it quickly and more efficiently so that we can get more infrastructure taken care of in shorter period of time," said Frank DiPaola of Mass Department of Transportation.

Related: I-93 Construction Guide

It could have taken up to four years.

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports

The construction affects the weekend drive.

The highway will be reduced to two lanes starting at 8:00 p.m. Friday nights, and reopening at 5 a.m. Monday morning.

"It's going to cause headaches no matter when you do it. Might as well do it now and get it over with so it won't affect the weelky drive," said a resident who lives near the project.

It is having an impact. Many drivers are finding themselves stuck in unexpected traffic.

But because of deterioration, the state says it's a problem that needs to be taken care of.