Skip to content

MassDOT, Boston Temporarily Remove Bike Lane On W. 4th Street Bridge for Paving Project

Crews are removing protective bollards on the West 4th Street Bridge in preparation for an upcoming paving project.
A photo taken from an elevated vantage point of a bulldozer parked in a bike lane with a bucket full of white plastic bollards.
A front-end loader removes flexible-post bollards from the West 4th Street Bridge in Boston on Tuesday, Sept. 2. MassDOT and City of Boston officials told StreetsblogMASS that the removal of the bollards is only temporary, to accommodate an upcoming paving project. Photo courtesy of Billy Gleason.

On Tuesday, several readers reached out with alarm after they spotted a bulldozer tearing out protective bollards on the West 4th Street Bridge, a critical bike route between South Boston and the South End.

But MassDOT officials have confirmed that the removal of the bike lane is only temporary, and part of the agency’s preparation for an imminent “mill and fill” repaving project on the bridge.

A city spokesperson told StreetsblogMASS that “we expect MassDOT to finish their work by the end of the month, and then protected cycling infrastructure will be reinstalled.”

MassDOT originally installed flexible-post bollards and other bikeway improvements on the West 4th Street bridge and the nearby Broadway/Traveler Street Bridge in 2021, as part of its South Bay Harbor Trail project.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog Massachusetts

Thursday’s Headlines Shout, Shout, Let It All Out

April 23, 2026

Mayor Wu’s Latest Budget Plan Eliminates Funding for Over a Dozen Street Safety Projects: See the List

April 22, 2026

A Small Central Mass. Town Is Tearing Up A Parking Lot to Make Its Downtown Greener and More Walkable

April 21, 2026

Green Line’s B Branch Takes a 9-Day Break Starting Wednesday, April 22

April 21, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines Curb Their Enthusiasm

April 21, 2026
See all posts