Leverett Circle Connector Bridge

The Leverett Circle Connector Bridge is a highway bridge over the Charles River, carrying two lanes each of northbound and southbound traffic. It connects to Interstate 93 (I-93) in Somerville, Massachusetts (Northern Expressway) at the northern end (exit 18, formerly 26 from I-93 south) and splits at the southern end, providing direct access to both Storrow Drive and Leverett Circle in Boston. Going northbound, there is also a fork which provides access to the City Square Tunnel under Charlestown to proceed on U.S. Route 1 (US 1) northbound via the Tobin Bridge.

Leverett Circle Connector
Coordinates42.36909°N 71.06459°W / 42.36909; -71.06459
Carrieshighway access ramp
CrossesCharles River
LocaleBoston, Massachusetts to Somerville, Massachusetts
Characteristics
Designsteel box girder bridge
Total length1.7 miles (2.7 km)[1]
History
OpenedOctober 7, 1999 (October 7, 1999)
Location

The span was built in conjunction with the more dramatic Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge as part of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, widely known as the Big Dig. During construction, the Leverett Circle Connector Bridge was sometimes called "Baby Bridge".[2] The bridge opened for traffic on October 7, 1999,[3] at a cost of $22.27 million (equivalent to $34.5 million in 2021[4]).[5]

Also known as the Storrow Drive Connector, it is the largest steel box girder bridge in the United States. It was the winner of a July 2001 National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) "prize bridge" award.[6] Its weaving design was determined by the other major structures involved in the Big Dig but unlike other parts of the project, it was finished eight days ahead of schedule.[5]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Boston, Suffolk County. All exits are unnumbered.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
West End0.00.0
 Route 28 north (O'Brien Highway) – Leverett Circle, North Station		At-grade intersection; North Station access via Nashua Street
0.20.32

 Route 28 south / Route 3 north (Storrow Drive)		Southbound exit and northbound entrance; no commercial vehicles
Charles River0.4–
0.5		0.64–
0.80		Bridge
Charlestown0.71.1
 US 1 north (Tobin Bridge) – Revere		E-ZPass or pay-by-mail tolls on bridge; loop ramp via City Square Tunnel
1.72.7
 I-93 north – Concord, NH		Exit 18 on I-93; Somerville city line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  • Leverett Circle as seen behind North Station during Big Dig construction.
    Leverett Circle as seen behind North Station during Big Dig construction.
  • Part of the rebuilt connector bridge at right.
    Part of the rebuilt connector bridge at right.

See also

References
  1. Google (June 2, 2019). "Leverett Circle Connector" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  2. Howe, Peter J. (August 10, 1998). "Masterpiece or monster". Boston Globe. p. C3.
  3. "Leonard P Zakim-Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (I-93 and US 1)". Boston Roads.
  4. Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved January 1, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
  5. "MTA - the Charles River Bridges". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  6. "National Steel Bridge Alliance 2001 Prize Bridge Award Winner: Medium Long Span Storrow Drive Connector Bridge". Modern Steel Construction. October 2001. Archived from the original on May 6, 2003. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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