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In an effort to accelerate years of repair work on its aging infrastructure, the MBTA plans to close substantial portions of its subway lines over several weekends this fall on top of ongoing repair work happening at night.

According to the Boston Globe, the T will spend almost $28 million on the work, which will see all underground stations on the Orange Lines closed for six successive weekends in October and November, and all underground Red Line stations in Boston closed for four successive weekends in November and December. Several Green Line lines will be closed for similar periods. Buses will replace subway service on the closed portions. The closures will not impact Thanksgiving weekend.

The extensive closures are necessary, T officials told the Globe, because material must be brought in through the tunnels and can’t be carried down through stations. The agency plans to present its proposal to its Fiscal and Management Control Board later today.

The MBTA faces a $10 billion backlog of repairs and necessary upgrades dating back several gubernatorial administrations. Gov. Charlie Baker proposes to spend $8 billion over five years on repairs, but all state-of-good-repair work would not be completed until 2032 under the most recent plans put forward by his administration.

MBTA Plans Huge Weekend Closures to Speed Repair Work

by Banker & Tradesman time to read: 1 min
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