Boston’s busiest rail terminal runs on bridges built during the Hoover administration. The MBTA has awarded a $1.06 billion design-build contract to replace the Draw One bridges, the pair of 1930s bascule spans that carry every North Station train across the Charles River, with modern vertical-lift structures. A joint venture of Skanska Civil Northeast and Koch leads the build, with VHB as design partner. Delivery is targeted for 2032 against a full program budget near $1.29 billion.
Project Scope
The work replaces the aging movable bascule spans with vertical-lift bridges that are simpler to operate and maintain. It also widens the North Station approach from four tracks to six, adds a new signal and control tower, and rolls in track and positive train control upgrades reaching across Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Construction is phased so commuter rail keeps running throughout, a constraint that governs crane placement, staging, and when crews can touch the live spans.
Why It Matters
Every one of the roughly 11 million annual trips through North Station depends on these two bridges, and a stuck span cascades into a region-wide morning of delays. Swapping century-old bascule mechanisms for vertical-lift spans removes a chronic single point of failure and adds capacity a growing commuter network needs. It’s one of the larger public rail awards in the Northeast this year, and a marquee civil win for the Skanska-led team.
Project Team & Details
| Owner / Client | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) |
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| Consultants | VHB (Lead Design) |
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| General Contractor | Skanska Civil Northeast / Koch JV |
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| Status | Under Construction |
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| Delivery Method | Design-Build |
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| Funding Source | Public (State) |
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