I-90 Allston Interchange Project
Due to aging infrastructure, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) plans to rebuild and reconfigure the Mass Pike Allston Interchange over the next decade. This project presents a unique opportunity to improve access to the Charles River, increase flood storage and climate resilience, reduce pollution and restore the ecological integrity of this segment of the river. CRWA serves on the project Task Force, which is comprised of local residents, advocates, institutions and businesses and public officials. CRWA has been advocating for river restoration through our participation on the I-90 Task Force since 2014 and have submitted comments on various stages of environmental review.
Although CRWA supports aspects of the project that would improve public transit and better connect the neighborhood to the river, MassDOT has recently revealed that it intends to relocate Soldiers Field Road and the Paul Dudley White path into the Charles River during construction. CRWA strongly opposes this plan because of the harm it would cause to the river.
The federal environmental review process for the project began in November 2019, and CRWA is calling for a full assessment of the environmental impacts of putting a road in the river for a decade or more. These impacts would be significant, and include narrowing the river in the "throat" area near Boston University, disrupting sediment, degrading water quality, and posing aquatic and human health risks. CRWA is also urging MassDOT to fully vet alternative approaches to both construction phasing and final project design that would not harm the river. CRWA will continue advocating for the river and those who use it at every stage of this complex project.
Although CRWA supports aspects of the project that would improve public transit and better connect the neighborhood to the river, MassDOT has recently revealed that it intends to relocate Soldiers Field Road and the Paul Dudley White path into the Charles River during construction. CRWA strongly opposes this plan because of the harm it would cause to the river.
The federal environmental review process for the project began in November 2019, and CRWA is calling for a full assessment of the environmental impacts of putting a road in the river for a decade or more. These impacts would be significant, and include narrowing the river in the "throat" area near Boston University, disrupting sediment, degrading water quality, and posing aquatic and human health risks. CRWA is also urging MassDOT to fully vet alternative approaches to both construction phasing and final project design that would not harm the river. CRWA will continue advocating for the river and those who use it at every stage of this complex project.