The Fields Corner Civic Association is asking the MBTA to provide more details about the status and integrity of three bridges that carry Red Line trains over neighborhood streets this month.

During the group’s Oct. 3 meeting in the Kit Clark Senior building, civic leaders said they want an MBTA official to address their concerns about the bridges on Dorchester Avenue, Geneva Avenue, and Freeman Street. A fourth bridge on Clayton Street was replaced a few years ago and is not a concern at his time.

The other three, however, look to be in rough condition, with neighbors describing crumbling concrete, rusted steel trusses, and retaining walls that are cracked and falling apart.

A closer view of the same bridge structure, which residents say looks worn with crumbling concrete. Seth Daniel photo

“We have requests for the MBTA to come to the civic association for an opportunity to check in on infrastructure in Fields Corner,” said Hiep Chu, secretary of the civic group, citing the same concerns as neighborhood residents.

The bridges, in particular the Dorchester Avenue Bridge (officially known as #B-16-140), have been mentioned by neighbors for more than a year, but Lisa Battiston, a spokesperson for the T, said the spans in question have been examined routinely and do meet muster.

“They… are each inspected every 24 months and were all last inspected in December of 2022,” she wrote in a statement to the Reporter. “Following this last inspection, the structural elements of each bridge were rated ‘fair,’ or above, no structural deficiencies, and are all functional.”

FCCA members said they would still like to have a community liaison from the MBTA come out to speak more in-depth about what they see as problems.

61 Linden St. plan put off for a month

Phoebe Nguyen, of 59 Linden St., and her representative, Michael Nguyen, came before the Civic on Oct. 3 to discuss changes to their proposal for a three-story, six-unit building that would replace a single-family ranch home on the street. The plan has been floating around for some time and was last addressed a year ago.

The newest version does not change the footprint, or height, but the number of bedrooms has dropped from 18 to 12.

“We’re hoping that sort of puts us over the edge with approval because we’ve been at this awhile,” Michael Nguyen said.
Neighbors and abutters, however, question the owner’s ability to take care of the property. They say she doesn’t take care of her current properties on Linden Street, citing unsanitary conditions. Their position was laid out in last year, and they said it has only gotten worse.

“Ultimately, she will do better than what she has done,” said Nguyen on hearing the criticism.

The project will be presented again next month.

The next FCCA meeting will be on Nov. 14 rather than Nov. 7 due to the general election on the latter date.