MBTA Draw One Bridge Project to Support 15,600 Jobs, Expand Rail Capacity

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has begun construction on a $1.2 billion project to replace the nearly century-old North Station Draw One Bridge, a major rail infrastructure investment expected to support approximately 15,600 jobs during construction.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey joined MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng, labor leaders and local officials to break ground on the project, which will replace the existing four-track bridge over the Charles River with new vertical-lift bridge structures capable of carrying six tracks.

Delivered under a Project Labor Agreement with the Greater Boston Building Trades, the project will support skilled construction jobs while establishing consistent wages, safety standards, and working conditions throughout the complex, multiyear effort.

“This is what it looks like when we invest in Massachusetts—thousands of good jobs, better and more reliable transportation, and infrastructure that will serve people and our economy for generations,” said Gov. Healey.

The project also will expand capacity at Boston’s North Station, connecting two additional station tracks to the rail network and increasing the total number of tracks from 10 to 12. Approximately 1.5 miles of track and signal improvements will be made north of the bridge, along with replacement of the existing bridge approaches and construction of a new control and maintenance facility.

The Draw One Bridge carries MBTA Commuter Rail service on the Haverhill, Lowell, Newburyport/Rockport, and Fitchburg lines, as well as Amtrak’s Downeaster service. More than 11 million passengers travel across the bridge annually.

Built in 1931, the existing bridge is a critical link for rail service north of Boston. Its replacement is expected to improve reliability and provide additional capacity for future service, including the MBTA’s plans to advance Regional Rail.

“By expediting the delivery of this design-build contract, we are creating good paying and skilled labor jobs during construction,” Eng said. “We are also facilitating long term economic growth, access to jobs, and housing for the communities and the public with improved service along these commuter rail lines.”

The project’s workforce impact is part of a broader economic investment associated with transportation infrastructure improvements across Massachusetts. The Healey-Driscoll administration has pursued federal funding for major transportation projects while investing state dollars in transit, roads and bridges.

In September 2024, MBTA received $472.3 million from USDOT’s National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) program for the Draw One project—the largest federal grant awarded to the agency at that time.

Construction strategies developed by the MBTA are expected to reduce the project schedule from an originally estimated eight years to approximately six and a half years, with completion anticipated in fall 2032.

For the construction workforce, the project represents years of employment on a complex rail infrastructure project. For MBTA and its riders, the completed bridge will provide expanded rail capacity and a more modern connection between North Station and the communities served by the MBTA and Amtrak.