Franklin MBTA Line Returning to Normal After Bridge Incident

Dedham Police image, above, appears to show a misalignment between tracks on the bridge and further down the line.

A Dedham Police Tweet and subsequent coverage by WCVB, indicated that a collision occurred Monday morning. WCVB reported that an overflight by their helicopter crew observed a trash compactor machine on the road adjacent to the bridge, apparently displaced from a truck.

Dedham police tweeted: “Traffic Alert Update: All traffic will be detoured away from the bridge. MBTA also reports all train service halted while engineers inspect the damage. Please seek alternate.
Subsequently, MBTA tweeted: “Train traffic is resuming on the Franklin Line but passengers continue to experience severe delays. Trains must operate at reduced speed through a single track until necessary repairs are made to the 2nd track due to a vehicle sticking [sic] a bridge."

Finally, Monday evening, MBTA tweeted, "Trains originating/terminating at Foxboro are cancelled through the end of service tonight. Buses connect with Franklin trains at Walpole for service to Foxboro.

Regular train service between South Station & Foxboro will resume tomorrow [Tuesday] morning.

As reported here previously, the nearly 120 years old railroad bridge over East Street in Dedham, on the Franklin commuter rail line, doesn’t quite predate the automobile era but was certainly not designed with modern cars and trucks in mind. The two lanes between the abutments are narrow, and the bridge itself is low.

And that has sparked a number of collisions between trucks and bridge elements over the years prior to today’s incident.

According to Brad Nicoll, MBTA deputy chief of bridge and structures, speaking at a public hearing about a year ago, the concern is for trucks and their operators, possible associated hazards for local residents and even, in a worst-case scenario, a collision of sufficient force to affect track alignment and lead to a derailment. It appears today’s incident may have come close to that latter, “worst case” scenario.

Nicoll said the MBTA has earmarked some $18 million dollars to not only replace the bridge structure but also the abutments and lower the road surface by nearly 2 feet.