(Photos of Comm Ave Bridge replacement project by Bernice Corpuz/WBZ NewsRadio 1030)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- A section of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is now gone Monday morning, providing a view of the four-lane traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike below.
Dozens of orange cones and drums around Comm Ave are guiding drivers through several detours. MBTA buses, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and bicyclists are sharing part of Comm Ave Monday morning--because half of the bridge is gone. Even pedestrians and cyclists are being rerouted.
Some cyclists told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz that a section of the bike lane is blocked, making their morning commutes a bit challenging.
"I mean, this is a surprise, I'm actually going to be a couple minutes late now," one said. "It's just inconvenient if you can't get through."
"It feels quite dangerous," another cyclist said. "I was just cycling and one of the trucks hit one of the signs, and it almost fell on me. Literally fell just behind me. So it doesn't feel safe at all, no."
Mikaela Lasser, out for a run, said she had to go an extra block just to cross the street.
"It's a little bit annoying, but it's okay," said Lasser. "They have a path over there so you can cross to get on the river."
State transportation officials have warned that there's going to be "wicked tough travels," and have urged drivers to stay away, take public transportation, and expect delays.
MassDOT Highway Administrator Johnathan Gulliver said that the volume on the MassPike is 25 to 30 percent less. Traffic is a little bit worse in some spots but "in line with expectations," he said.
The MBTA is providing shuttle buses for commuters on the B Branch of the Green Line.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz (@BerniceWBZ) reports