Lechmere Is Dead; Long Live Lechmere!

From Dave Brigham:

I don't know for sure that this excavator will be employed to take apart Lechmere Station in East Cambridge, which is located in the background. Probably not, but the station will be razed before too long while a new station rises across Monsignor O'Brien Highway. It's all part of the MBTA's Green Line Extension project, which is slated to begin light-rail service to six new stations, as well as the new Lechmere station, in Cambridge, Somerville and Medford by the end of 2021.

Opened in 1922 by the Boston Elevated Railway, Lechmere station takes its name from the nearby Lechmere Square, which was named for "Colonial-era landowner Richard Lechmere, a Loyalist who returned to England at the beginning of the American Revolution," per Wikipedia. "His lands were later seized by the new American government." The station was totally bare bones a hundred years ago. Over time, a busway was added (which will remain open for the time being; shuttle buses will replace Green Line trolleys between Lechmere and North Station), as was a more substantial (although not very substantial) shelter area for train passengers.

The station hasn't been upgraded in, I wanna say 100 years, but that can't be true.

A new section will be added to the viaduct that runs from just east of Science Park Station in Boston to the intersection of Cambridge Street and Monsignor O'Brien Highway. The old section that connects to the old Lechmere Station will come down. In the photo below, the new viaduct section is at the top of the photo, while the old Lechmere is in the bottom.

Below, the new viaduct section is to the left, the old one to the right.

The Green Line Extension will continue from the new Lechmere Station (rendering here) north into Somerville -- stopping at a spur in Union Square, as well as stations in East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square -- and end in Medford near Tufts University.

I look forward to seeing the new Lechmere Station, as well as all the other ones. My son might not want to ride with me anymore by that point (he just turned 18), but I bet I can entice him. Especially if the Trolley Snacks & More gets a makeover for the new Lechmere.

Nine years ago, I randomly visited East Somerville and took pictures of some MBTA freight cars along New Washington Street (see June 14, 2011, "Graffiti Train"). This area is just steps away from where the new East Somerville Green Line Station will welcome passengers.