Mass Central Rail Trail Progresses in Waltham

By John Dieckmann

Construction of the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) in Waltham has made considerable process this year. Grading and paving has been completed over the entire three mile trail from Beaver Street to Main Street. All work is essentially finished trom Middlesex Circle, a few hundred yards west of Linden Street (Route 60) to Main Street, including a top coat of pavement, lane striping, guard rails where necessary, and road crossing markings and crossing signals. Amenities at road crossings include benches, bike racks, and stone columns identifying the road being crossed. 

There are two bridges between Middlesex Circle and Beaver Street; a wooden trestle that crosses Beaver Brook and a steel truss bridge over Linden Street. This section has not been finished; it lacks a top coat of pavement, lane striping, etc. The work on the wooden bridge is complete, but the truss bridge’s renovation doesn’t appear to have been started. so official opening of the trail may await completion of this bridge.

Lyman Street has heavy traffic for much of the day and requires crossing signals. Those signals are operating.

The connection from Main Street, Waltham to Weston is the responsibility of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The DCR expects detailed design work on this ¾ mile stretch to be ready to go out for construction bids next summer. The ¾ mile connection from Beaver Street to Belmont is currently has no construction date.

The trail has not opened officially, but the finished sections from Middlesex Circle, west, to Main Street are being used.

John Dieckmann is a director of the Belmont Citizens Forum.