HOPKINTON – On Wednesday, May 15, utility crews will begin daytime electrical relocation work and outages of the Fruit Street bridge in Hopkinton as part of the I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvements Project.
Relocation work and outages are planned to occur during the day on Wednesday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Weather and unexpected circumstances make all construction activities subject to change; the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will provide updates as they become available.
Fruit Street in Hopkinton will only be open to local traffic between North Street and Saddle Hill Road while detours are in place. The electrical relocation work requires temporary daytime detours. During this time, the following signed detour routes will be in place for vehicles traveling on Fruit Street:
- Westbound traffic looking to cross over I-495: Turn left to head south on Saddle Hill Road. Turn slightly right onto Walker Street, then turn right onto Wood Street (MA-135 West) and continue until you reach Fruit Street.
- Eastbound traffic looking to cross over I-495: Follow detour signage in place to Wood Street (MA-135 East). Turn left onto Walker Street, then continue onto Saddle Hill Road until you reach Fruit Street.
During this construction phase, the total number of travel lanes on both I-495 and I-90 will remain the same. All ramps within the interchange will be open at all times.
Travelers are advised to pay attention to all signage as it is posted. Over the course of the project, police details, changes in lane markings, temporary controls like barriers and traffic cones, signage and other tools will be used to control traffic and create safe work zones within the project limits.
About the Project
For years, the I-495/I-90 Interchange has experienced traffic demands exceeding its capacity. On an average day, this interchange carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles that travel on both I-90 and I-495, with approximately half of all trucking entering eastern Massachusetts. The deficient geometry concentrates movements through the former toll plaza area, resulting in queuing onto the interstate mainlines and crash rates twice the statewide average.
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 design is taking place now through December 2024, with project completion scheduled for June 2027.
To report a noise complaint, please call the project hotline: 508-676-3551
Project email: 495-90Improvements@state.ma.us
Project website: www.mass.gov/massdot/495-90interchange