Towns of Acton, Carlisle, Westford, and Concord, MA Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

The Framingham and Lowell Railroad, established in 1870 in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, connected the growing railroad hub of Framingham and the important mill city of Lowell, passing through various towns. Ownership changed hands multiple times over the years and the track was abandoned in 2001. The rail bed is undergoing renovation in a multi-phase project to create a rail trail spanning almost 25 miles. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, named after a local state representative who championed its development, will connect communities with open spaces, historical sites, and shopping areas.

GPI supplied design services for Phases 2A, 2B, and 2C of the trail in Acton, Carlisle, Westford, and Concord. GPI prepared the final design and right-of-way plans, sketch plans, and final bridge plans for the bridge structures along the trail, special provisions, and an engineer’s estimate meeting the requirements of MassDOT for construction of the project. Features of the design include paved asphalt multi-use trails, a stone dust trail, pedestrian bridge structures, railroad bridge rehabilitation, wildlife under-crossings, and an under-road tunnel. Inclusion of an at-grade crossing of the MBTA rail tracks required development of alternatives and close coordination with the MBTA. GPI also led the required environmental permitting and collaborated with the community and the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.