The Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass is the elevated section of Route 203 connecting the Arboretum at the Arborway, over Washington and South Streets, in the Jamaica Plain area of the City of Boston. The Overpass is located directly adjacent to the Forest Hills MBTA Station. (see locus map).  The area of the Overpass serves many neighborhoods and traveling constituencies, including walkers, bicyclists, MBTA riders, and motorists.  The area is also an important connection to such Boston institutions as Franklin Park, Forest Hills Cemetery, Shattuck Hospital, and the Arnold Arboretum, among others.

The overpass is structurally deficient and suffers from numerous superstructure and substructure problems due to a combination of deterioration and original design flaws.  The structure has deteriorated beyond the point where it can be effectively maintained and will be replaced with a new, at-grade boulevard to be known as the Casey Arborway, between spring 2014 and fall 2016.  Replacement is being funded through the Patrick-Murray Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) which seeks to reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges in the Commonwealth through repair or replacement. 

DESIGN PROCESS

On March 8, 2012 following substantial public discussion and input, MassDOT announced its decision to replace the existing Casey Overpass with a new, multimodal at-grade roadway.  MassDOT has received a MEPA certificate for this replacement in January 2013 and conducted the 25% Design Public Hearing in February, 2013.  The 25% design shown in February is the result of the collaboration between MassDOT, its project team and the Design Advisory Group (DAG).  With the 75% design phase now underway, DOT and its project team look forward to continuing with the DAG to address issues of open space in the new Casey Arborway corridor and construction management.  MassDOT encourages you to become involved in the finalization of the Casey Arborway design by attending a DAG meeting, participating in a public information meeting, or submitting your comments to the project team in writing.  All events related to the Casey Arborway project will be listed on this website.  Contact information is likewise available from this site. 

PLANNING PROCESS

In March 2011, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) initiated a study of alternatives to replace the existing Casey Overpass. The study worked to identify safe, accessible, multi-modal landscape, streetscape, and transportation options to accommodate all modes of transportation. The planning study considered alternatives that would replace the existing Casey Overpass with a new bridge or overhead structure, as well as alternatives that would eliminate the bridge and instead build a new at-grade roadway to accommodate the traffic currently carried by the Overpass.

As part of this process, MassDOT formed a Working Advisory Group, made of representatives of local neighborhoods and organizations that will be effected by the outcome of the Casey process. This group met regularly from March 2011 through November 2011. To review the materials developed by and for the Working Advisory Group members, please visit the project meetings page.