North Washington Street Bridge Marks Another Major Milestone

The new North Washington Street/Charlestown Bridge will mark another major milestone in construction later this month when traffic moves to a temporary bridge to allow for the demolition of the more than 100-year-old existing structure.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the new $180 million new bridge will replace the century-old truss bridge that connects Charlestown to the North End over Boston Harbor and include two 12-foot-wide sidewalks, with an additional two 7-foot lanes serving as dedicated cycle-tracks. Nearly 40 percent of its width will accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, making it the city’s first truly multi-modal bridge and one of the most innovative bridges in that regard nationwide. Offering spans up to 200 feet, the new bridge will also feature curved overlooks and open space at its center navigation span with seating, a shade structure and landscaping, which will allow visitors to enjoy views of both the harbor and city.

The new bridge is the brainchild of Miguel Rosales, a longtime Beacon Hill resident and president and founder of the Boston architectural firm Rosales + Partners who also designed the adjacent Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge; the design of the new bridge’s elegant piers and overall architecture is inspired by the iconic, cable-stayed Zakim Bridge, according to Rosales.

“As bridge designer for the new North Washington Street/Charlestown bridge, I am very pleased that the project is reaching this milestone,” Rosales wrote. â€œThe new iconic bridge for the City of Boston will visually complement the Zakim Bridge in which I was also involved as designer.  The new harbor crossing will substantially improve pedestrian, bicycle and bus access into the city from the north.  It will also create an impressive destination along the historic Freedom Trail. I am looking forward to its completion.”

The new bridge is slated to open in 2023, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Zakim Bridge.

To view an animated 3-D video on the new bridge, visit https://youtu.be/i5PFRfHlQr0.