MBTA completes Red Line infrastructure work

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently completed critical infrastructure improvements along the subway Red Line, including track work. 

Work took place over a 10-day closure of the line between Alewife and Park Street stations. With open access to Red Line track areas, crews replaced 24 primary floating slabs and 13 secondary floating slabs that were about 45 years old, 3,600 feet of rail, 950 feet of full-depth track and 160 ties. Crews also completed 3,290 feet of surfacing along complicated track sections, MBTA officials said in a newsletter.

The work was part of the MBTA’s regular, planned renewal and revitalization work, intended to upgrade assets according to needs outlined in its 2023 Capital Needs Assessment and Inventory, officials said. The work also built upon and maintained work completed in the 2024 Track Improvement Program, in which 85 long-existing speed restrictions were removed from the Red Line. 

Other work completed includes the following: 

• Major signal upgrade work at Porter station; moving and rewiring signal racks at Central station
• Radio improvements and third rail improvements throughout the shutdown area 
• Alewife headhouse plaza renovations
• Power conduit installations at Davis station
• Station cleaning, repairs and maintenance throughout the shutdown area 
• Hands-on Red Line tunnel inspections
• Bridge inspections in the area of the Longfellow Bridge near Charles/MGH station
• Drone flight inspections within the tunnel area, including mapping of the tunnel and track

MBTA will begin construction on a new work vehicle tunnel in North Cambridge on the Red Line next spring.