Green Line Extension to Medford & Union Sq

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The pedestrian bridge for Magoun Square is now assembled. The crane was in the process of packing up, so no lift this weekend.
 
That was quick. I was through there late Friday afternoon and either I somehow missed it or that bridge was not there. Did they bring it down the Lowell Line as a freight move?
 
That was quick. I was through there late Friday afternoon and either I somehow missed it or that bridge was not there. Did they bring it down the Lowell Line as a freight move?

The bridge sections were brought in on the hi-rail tractor trailer, like the elevator towers.
 
Definitely a Brighton line. Didn't really reach Newton. It ended at Watertown's edge, but right across the river from Watertown Square, which is the functional center of the city even if it isn't the geographic center. The 57 bus runs the route today.

Definitely went through Newton corner.
 
The problem is that the tracks have to be right next to each other going under the bridge (or they'd have to rebuild it, and it's only about 15 years old), and then they need room for the tracks to separate to accommodate the platform. And going through Maxwell's Green would be just as long a walk from Lowell St.
 
Well we all know how good the MBTA is at maintaining steel walkways and bridges to access platforms so I see no way this could possibly end up badly in 30 years... like the currently closed South Attleboro and Winchester Center which both just rusted away...

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Not to mention the Suffolk Downs crossover.
 
Maybe the MBTA could buy some wire brushes and Rustoleum at Home Depot this weekend and fix it up.
Cute, but this is a case where they actually screwed the pooch with their outstanding maintenance practices:
Per the T:
"Suffolk Downs pedestrian bridge is closed until further notice due to structural issues. Customers can connect to the other platform by exiting at Orient Heights or Beachmont and taking a train back to Suffolk Downs."
 
South Attleboro was one of those cheap galvanized steel bridges that the MBTA liked from the 80s to the early 2000s. None of them have lasted well - Canton Junction required major repairs after just 15 years, and the outer Worcester Line bridges don't look in great condition either. The newer footbridges, including GLX, seem to be made of higher-quality materials (and are painted) and I suspect they will age better with halfway decent maintenance.
 

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