Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail

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Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail
Wakefield Centre station and rail trail construction, August 2022.JPG
Wakefield Centre station with new paved rail trail in Wakefield, Massachusetts
Length0.91 miles (1.46 km), 4.4 miles (7.1 km) when complete
Began construction2020
CompletedTBD
UseWalking, bicycling, inline skating
DifficultyEasy
SeasonYear-round
Surface Paved
Right of way Former Newburyport Railroad, currently owned by the MBTA
Maintained by Wakefield and Lynnfield
Website http://www.lynnfieldrailtrail.org/

The Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail is a proposed and currently under construction rail trail in the Towns of Wakefield and Lynnfield, Massachusetts. It follows the right-of-way of the former Newburyport Railroad, now owned by the MBTA and leased to the Towns. [1] When completed, the trail will run approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) in Wakefield and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in Lynnfield. [2] The southwestern terminus is near Wakefield Station, and passes the Galvin Middle School, under Interstate 95 (128) into Lynnfield over the Reedy Meadow wetland, passes the Lynnfield Middle School, the Reedy Meadows Golf Course, and Lynnfield High School to the northeastern terminus at the Peabody border. [1] It will connect to the Peabody Independence Greenway and the greater Border to Boston Trail. [3] To date, Wakefield completed construction of approximately 0.91 miles (1.46 km) between Main Street and Salem Street in coordination with a National Grid Woburn to Wakefield underground electric transmission line installation within the MBTA ROW, which began in 2020. [4] [5] [6] The trail heads to access these sections are currently under construction. [4]

2.82 miles (4.54 km) (all of Lynnfield to Fosters Lane in Wakefield), including a 0.91 miles (1.46 km) boardwalk over the Reedy Meadow is under 75% design, with construction bids anticipated in May 2026. [7] [8] [9] The remaining section in Wakefield anticipates construction bids in summer 2027. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 "About". Lynnfield Rail Trail. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  2. "FAQ's". Lynnfield Rail Trail. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  3. 1 2 "WAKEFIELD- LYNNFIELD- RAIL TRAIL EXTENSION, FROM THE GALVIN MIDDLE SCHOOL TO LYNNFIELD/PEABODY T.L." MassDOT. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  4. 1 2 "Trail Head Project". Wakefield, MA. 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  5. "Woburn to Wakefield Line Project". The Greater Boston and New Hampshire Solution. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  6. "Woburn to Wakefield Transmission Line Project Begins Construction | Epsilon Associates". www.epsilonassociates.com. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  7. "Lynnfield Rail Trail Project Update" (PDF). Town of Lynnfield. 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  8. "Rail Trail | Lynnfield MA". www.town.lynnfield.ma.us. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  9. "LYNNFIELD- WAKEFIELD- RAIL TRAIL CONSTRUCTION". MassDOT. Retrieved 2024-03-17.