DOT Expecting 'Really Bad' Traffic Due To Mass Pike Lane Reductions

BOSTON (CBS) – Lane reductions on the Mass Pike will be put into place Friday night as a part of the ongoing Commonwealth Avenue bridge replacement project, and officials say there will be a major impact on traffic.

Interstate 90 will be reduced from four lanes to three between the Allston/Brighton Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass Friday night.

In addition, further lane reductions will take place starting July 28. Those reductions will bring the Mass Pike down to two lanes, sometimes one.

"We're expecting it to be really bad," said MassDOT Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "If you need to come in from the western part of the state into the city, you should expect to run into some major, major delays. We're looking at some of modeling suggesting right now suggesting it could be an excess of 40 minutes for your typical commute."

A dry run was held in June, allowing MassDOT officials to reduce traffic lanes temporarily as a test.

More work on the project will be done next summer, with the final phase in 2019.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports