Arlington, MA, September 28, 2026—The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is thrilled to see the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) approve a $78.7 million contract for the construction of the Mystic River Pedestrian Bridge. The proposed project – a generational investment by the Commonwealth – will connect dozens of miles of shared-use paths in the region, including the Mystic River Greenway, the Northern Strand Trail, and East Coast Greenway, to the heart of downtown Boston.
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), alongside active transit advocacy groups like Bike to the Sea and the East Coast Greenway Alliance, has long emphasized the need for this major improvement to promote connectivity for parks and paths along the Mystic River and invest in quality of life for the local communities. The Mystic River Pedestrian Bridge will be the only car-free connection across the Mystic River, bridging the soon-to-reopen Draw Seven Park in Somerville to the Everett waterfront at Encore Casino.
Rendering of the proposed bridge from a MassDOT public hearing in October, 2025
“This milestone signals that the Mystic waterfront is a critical part of our region, worthy of large-scale investment to unlock development, environmental and community health, and prosperity for all,” says Patrick Herron, Executive Director for the Mystic River Watershed Association. “Everyone, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how they get around, will be able to enjoy this bridge connecting the two banks of the Mystic River .”
“Right now, there just aren’t that many great routes to get from one side of the Mystic River to the other,” says Karl Alexander, Greenways Program Sr. Manager for MyRWA. “Projects like this aren’t luxuries; they are essential infrastructure for the health and well-being of everyday people. At MyRWA, we advocate every day for safe, accessible connections like this to become reality.”
In addition to connecting paths along the Mystic River, the Mystic River Pedestrian Bridge will be a crucial link for several local - and national - shared-use paths. The Northern Strand Trail, which will soon stretch all the way to Nahant, begins on the Everett waterfront. The bridge also closes a major gap in the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, which spans from Maine to Florida.
“Bike to the Sea is thrilled to see MassDOT advancing this long-awaited connection to the Northern Strand Trail. The Mystic River Bridge will unlock incredible alternative transportation options for people of all ages and abilities, and better connect our communities to regional recreational, commercial, educational, civic, and other destinations.” – Jonah Chiarenza, Executive Director, Bike to the Sea
“The Mystic River Pedestrian Bridge will be a transformational segment of the East Coast Greenway, linking downtown Boston to the Northern Strand and the New Hampshire border. The bridge will create a safe connection for local residents and long-distance travelers, unlocking access to the rapidly developing Greenway in New England, including recently completed segments in New Hampshire and Maine. Projects like this bring the region closer to a nearly 400-mile model East Coast Greenway segment from New Haven, Connecticut, through Boston and north to the coast of Maine.” - Dennis Markatos-Soriano, East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director
###
Mystic River Watershed Association
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) builds shared solutions so that all people, no matter who you are or where you live across the Mystic River Watershed, have safe and easy access to nature and a healthy environment. MyRWA believes that understanding the roots of current inequity, access to information, and opportunities to learn about the natural world empower us all to work together for a better future in the Mystic.
Mystic Greenways Vision
Greenways are safe and accessible routes for walking, biking, and rolling that connect people to places, nature, and each other. The Mystic Greenways Program aims to connect 25 miles of paths, improve hundreds of acres of parklands, and engage thousands of community members from the Mystic Lakes to Boston Harbor. A high-quality network of greenways will enhance climate resiliency, provide sustainable mobility, and improve physical and mental health outcomes for the more than 600,000 residents of the Mystic River watershed.
