Route 79 expressway in Fall River to close to begin transformation into urban boulevard

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WJAR) — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that a stretch of Route 79 in Fall River is set to close permanently on Monday.

For years, city officials in Fall River have been working on a plan to connect the upper part of the city to the waterfront.

With the help of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation their plans to dismantle the elevated highway are finally coming to fruition.

“We are very very excited, this is a huge project for the city of Fall River long term impact across the whole waterfront, a ton of jobs, a ton of new development, a ton of growth, it’s just what we’re looking for,” said Mayor Paul Coogan.

The state is closing the expressway section in both directions between the Veterans Memorial Bridge and Fall River Heritage State Park.

While crews work to remove the highway, traffic will be re-routed to Davol Street. Drivers can use Route 24 as alternate route for direct travel between Route 79 and Interstate 195.

It will likely get congested, and Mayor Paul Coogan recommends taking Route 24 for direct travel between Route 79 and Interstate 195.

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The U-turn bridge at Brightman Street will also shut down permanently. Drivers can use Cory Street.

The project will take about four years to complete and will cost more than $100 million.

Critics are calling it “Fall Rivers Big Dig” but city officials believe the project is on track.

“Let's hope that it stays on track budget wise and it does not become 'Fall Rivers Big Dig.' Again, we don’t have that level of exposure this is a Massachusetts DOT project initiated by them and by our legislature to get this stuff done,” said Daniel Aguiar, director of engineering and planning in Fall River.

The entire Route 79-Davol Street corridor will be rebuilt as an urban boulevard, with the goal of connecting the new MBTA station to the waterfront. This will allow for more pedestrian traffic and recreation.

However, lifelong Fall River residents worry that they will be priced out when that happens.

“People may feel some negative impacts when they take land but at the same time for the overall good of the community we move forward,” Coogan told NBC 10.

NBC 10's Jodi Reed contributed to this report.