Parkway area travel restrictions for the holidays
For those who navigate these areas this holiday season; owners, staff, and customers:
West Roxbury Parkway Bridge Replacement Project (Spans railroad tracks between Centre St. at Holy Name Circle to Belgrade Ave.)
December 19, 2025 - January 2, 2026. A brief overview of construction operations and impacts for the West Roxbury Parkway Bridge Replacement over the next two weeks.
Over the next two weeks, there will be no impacts to travel associated with this project. Work over the week of December 21 will be limited to nighttime hours, and there will be no work during the week of December 28. Regular work will recommence on Monday, January 5. There will be no daytime work over the next two weeks. Daytime work will resume on Monday, January 5. Beginning the week of December 21, the Contractor is scheduled to work nighttime hours (9 PM to 5 AM) along the Commuter Rail tracks below the bridge. Work will take place Sunday to Tuesday.
Operations will include:
- Stump removal
- Construction of ramps down to the railroad bed
- The Contractor is performing civil work below the bridge
** At some point (dates TBD) the MBTA Needham branch trains will be suspended for some of the bridge work that would block the tracks. Shuttle buses would replace train traffic.
Stay up-to-date and informed by following @MassDOT on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Mass 511 for real-time updates, visiting the project website, or emailing us with any questions. You can also request addition to the project's direct e-mail updates.
Project website: www.mass.gov/west-roxbury-parkway-bridge-replacement
Project email: WestRoxPkwyBR@dot.state.ma.us
Canterbury Street Bridge Closure (Spans railroad tracks between Hyde Park Ave and Rowe/Cliffmont Streets)
The original plans were for a design review process with work commencing sometime in 2028. However major structural deficiencies closed the bridge to auto and truck traffic until further notice. This has not changed the design and construction schedule as of this writing. As of now the bridge could remain closed to all vehicular traffic till at least 2030 or later. Pedestrian crossings are allowed. MassDOT stated they plan to accelerate the schedule but no formal dates have been announced.
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Boston Nature Center awarded $400K from state
The City of Boston announced it has received a $400,000 climate resilience grant to develop restoration plans for Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center wetland and a portion of the state-owned Canterbury Brook flowing through the Boston Nature Center and an adjacent parcel. Restoring a healthy stream-wetland complex at the Boston Nature Center would create additional stormwater storage capacity, helping lessen flood risk within the watershed.
January 15, 2026
Two children dead from flu in Boston
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is informing residents that flu has been associated with the deaths of two children under two years of age in Boston. These are the first reported flu deaths in children in Boston since 2013. One death was referenced in yesterday’s press release from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the second was confirmed overnight, bringing the state total to four pediatric flu-related deaths. As Boston continues to experience a surge in flu cases, BPHC is urging residents to get vaccinated and take preventative measures to protect against severe illness.
January 8, 2026
Area E-5 Boston Police to make special presentation at this week’s WRCIA meeting
The next monthly meeting of the West Roxbury Civic and Improvement Association will be this Tuesday, January 13 at the St Stephen Church at 5160 Washington Street beginning at 7:00 PM.
January 8, 2026
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