The Tobin Memorial Bridge connects the Charlestown section of Boston with Chelsea. The bridge provides three travel lanes northbound on its lower level and three lanes southbound on the upper level. Tolls are collected from southbound cars only. If you were handed a Tobin toll violation for non payment of toll, please read this information.
Tobin Memorial Bridge Cleaning and Painting Project - Lanes Closures to start Monday, April 23, 2012
MassDOT’s contractor will begin cleaning and painting work on the Tobin Memorial Bridge, which connects the Charlestown section of Boston with Chelsea Tobin Bridge, on Monday, April 23, 2012. During the work there will be lane closures in place on the bridge.
Starting Monday, April 23, 2012, there will be alternating single lane closures on the lower deck of the Tobin Bridge NB on Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27 from 7 AM to 2 PM. There will also be alternating single lane closures on the upper deck of the Tobin Bridge SB on Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Beginning Monday, April 30, 2012, there will be a permanent left lane closure in place on the lower deck of the Tobin Bridge NB until
further notice. There will also be an additional nighttime NB center lane closure in place from 9 PM to 6 AM.
The Tobin Memorial Bridge was erected in 1948-49 and opened to traffic in 1950. It connects the Charlestown section of Boston with Chelsea. The bridge provides three travel lanes northbound on its lower level and three lanes southbound on the upper level. The 36-foot-wide roadway is bounded on both sides by safety walks (2'7" wide) with steel-pipe railings on each side.
The main structure over the Mystic River is a three-span, cantilevered truss 1,525' in length. Its center span is 800' and the maximum truss height is 115'. It provides a navigable waterway opening 700' wide by 135' high. A smaller, simply supported warren truss spans the Little Mystic. It reaches a maximum truss height of 65' and is 439' long. Its navigable waterway opening measures 340' wide by 100' high.
The approaches comprise 36 spans on the north and 32 spans on the south. These spans are built-up plate girders of variable lengths (average length is 100'). On the twelve-span toll plaza--set between the Little and Big Mystic trusses--the roadway widens to102 feet to accommodate seven collection lanes.
Recently rehabilitated, the toll plaza sits on the upper level and incorporates such features as a walkway across its top (for electrical maintenance), new heated and air-conditioned booths, an overhead electronic message board and a fire-suppression system.
A maintenance garage, located in Chelsea, houses all maintenance, operating, and mechanical equipment for upkeep of the bridge. Including north and south approaches, the bridge is approximately 2 1/4 miles long.
Tobin by the Numbers
Designer
J.E. Greiner Co.
Ground-breaking
April 12, 1948
Opening
February 27, 1950
Cost
$27,000,000
Length
2 1/4 miles
Road width
36 feet
Roadway vertical clearance
15 feet
Highest point
254' above sea level
Deepest pier
85' below sea level
Mystic river span
Length: 800'
Clearance above high water mean: 135'
Little Mystic span
Length: 439'
Clearance above high water mean: 100'
Upper level
One-way into Boston (southbound)
Lower level
One-way out of Boston (northbound)
Vehicle restrictions
Height: 15'
Width: 10'
Weight: 12 tons per axle
Length (single trailer unit): 45'
Length (with trailer): 85'