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Map of Route 495 time line from the Mass Department of Transportation Division of Highways.

This morning marked the first day of full implementation of a major traffic shift on Interstate 495. If you’re heading home on 495 North tonight, you’ll have the option of crossing the median and driving on the southbound side of the highway. The splitting of the northbound lane into two lanes on the northbound side and one on the southbound is part of an effort to keep three lanes of traffic open in both directions during a major renovation of six bridges (three in each direction) in the Lowell area of 495.

This is part of a $34 million project that includes replacing six key bridges on 495 in Lowell. Preparations for this work began in August and it’s scheduled to be wrapped up in late 2010 with final work polished off in 2011. Once phase 1 and phase 2 are completed, the crossover lane will switch, sending one lane of the southbound highway onto the northbound side.

There’s actually a pretty good Web site for the project linked below, with time line and key project points, as well as maps and diagrams like the one above showing how traffic will be rerouted during construction. Certainly a project of this magnitude is likely to cause some traffic delays — traffic flow has slowed down slightly since the lane shifts began a month ago. Nevertheless, the scope of the project is pretty large considering the parties involved remain committed to maintaining three lanes of open traffic in both directions during peak hours. According to Nathaniel Curtis of Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc., one of the projects partners, all six bridges in the project are original to the highway and will be completely replaced.

“There’s two number one jobs,” Curtis said. “Public safety and completing the job on time and on budget. Part of public safety is being able to keep the public moving as best as possible.”

RELATED:

• I-495 Lowell Bridge Bundle Web site