Green Line D branch shuts down, first of three closures

By Maeve Lawler, Kasteel Well Bureau Chief

The MBTA Green Line D branch closed on Sept. 24, commencing the first of three nine-day closures to allow for upgrades and maintenance.

The temporary closure eliminates service between Riverside and Kenmore, according to a Sept. 16  press release from the MBTA. In lieu of the Green Line closures, riders can use free shuttle buses between Riverside and Kenmore. Shuttle buses will not stop at Beaconsfield station due to the narrow surrounding roads. 

Crews are working to replace 6,000 feet of track and upgrade six station crossings. Most track replacements will occur between Eliot and Riverside stations. They will also install equipment for the Green Line Train Protection System. The GLTPS can automatically stop a train if another vehicle is detected, and notify the operators of red lights and speed limits. 

Waban and Eliot station parking lots will also be closed during the closure for truck access and materials storage, according to the MBTA. 

The D branch’s closures are part of the Green Line Transformation Project, in which crews completed diversions to the B, C, and E branches this summer. The D branch closures are the final diversions of the project. 

The first closure is from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2, the second from Oct. 8 to Oct. 16, and the third from Oct. 22 to Oct. 30.