The I-495/I-90 Interchange Design Build project recently reached a major milestone with the opening of the ramp connecting I-90 Westbound to I-495 Southbound (Ramp WS). VHB joined the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and our design-build partner Barletta Heavy Division onsite to commemorate the joint team’s effort in completing this landmark achievement.
As the lead designer for the Ramp WS, VHB delivered a complex, curved girder bridge that crosses active traffic along both directions of I-90 and multiple ramps through the former toll plaza area. The opening of this ramp provides a dedicated exit for vehicles going from I-90 Westbound to I-495 Southbound and removes an existing antiquated weave condition in the previous toll space. This direct connection will optimize traffic operations, ease congestion, and support a safer, more reliable travel experience for all users.
The I-495/I-90 improvements project is one of Massachusetts’ largest and most complex transportation projects since the Big Dig. For the past four years, VHB has been actively involved in this initiative, drawing from its deep bench of highway, traffic, structural, and ITS engineers and environmental scientists to design the new mainlines of I-90 and I-495, eight new reconfigured ramps, new bridge structures, and solutions for the sensitive environmental resource area.
After completing the design process, VHB is continuing to support the project through environmental monitoring, construction-related design needs, and traffic engineering to manage the ongoing flow of nearly 200,000 daily vehicles through the project area.
“The opening of this new ramp signifies a key milestone for this project and will help further our team's goals of enhancing traffic safety, reducing congestion, and providing a more predictable trip for drivers who depend on this critical interchange,” said Design Manager and Watertown Director of Highway Josh Cone-Roddy. “These improvements will benefit the traveling public for years to come, and we’re proud to be part of this effort alongside our partners at Barletta."
Learn more about VHB’s work on the I-495/I-90 Design Build project.
