The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently broke ground on the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor or LMRC improvement project that seeks to turn part of an abandoned rail line into an approximately 1.5-mile shared use path.
[Above left to right: MassDOT’s Tibbits-Nutt, Lawrence Mayor DePeña. Photo via Town of Lawrence.]
The project – which should be completed by the summer of 2028 – also includes rehabilitation of existing LMRC bridges over the Merrimack River and the South Canal, construction of a new bridge over Manchester Street for the shared-use path, and replacement of the Lowell Street bridge with a precast concrete culvert structure. Additionally, the approaches on Lowell Street will be reconstructed to accommodate the proposed structure and connect with the existing infrastructure.
Other improvements incorporated into the LMRC project include traffic signal reconstruction; curb extensions; construction of new sidewalks or rehabilitating existing ones; plus, the installation of accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, and pedestrian signal equipment where the shared path intersects with public roadways.
[Editor’s note: In January, MassDOT noted that it added roughly 15 miles of new shared use paths in 2024; expanding multimodal connectivity and opportunities for recreation statewide while also enhancing pedestrian and bicyclist safety.]
Further improvements include installation of granite curbing, minor drainage system upgrades, mill and overlay of the existing pavement at street intersections, and full depth pavement construction for both the shared-use path and selected roadway intersection areas.
“We’re proud to partner with our municipal leaders to bring the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor to life, transforming a long-unused rail line into a vibrant shared-use path,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MassDOT secretary and CEO, in a statement.
“This project isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about equity,” she said. “It’s about ensuring every resident has safe, reliable access to walk, bike, and connect to their community, regardless of zip code or background.”
“The Manchester Rail Trail is a transformative project that will open new opportunities to connect people to work, school, home, and more, and we’re grateful for our partnership with our state and federal delegations and the city’s leadership to make projects like this become a reality,” added Jonathan Gulliver, MassDOT highway administrator. “Shared use paths are proven tools to support mobility and economic growth, and the Manchester Rail Trail will result a new means of travel that will stretch from one end of the city to the other.”
“The Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor project is a transformative investment in the future of our city,” noted Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña. “By turning an abandoned rail line into a modern shared-use path, we are creating a safer, more connected community – one that promotes active transportation, supports local economic development, and improves quality of life for all our residents.”
Across the country, state departments of transportation are working on similar shared trail projects.
For example, the Illinois Department of Transportation recently began work on the latest extension of the Route 66 Trail in McLean County.
Made possible by a $3.2 million grant via the agency’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, the project will extend the trail 4.5 miles from McLean to Funks Grove – enhancing a popular travel and recreation option in central Illinois while drawing tourists, creating economic opportunity and improving connections for communities along the old Route 66.
Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Transportation is currently building the Gravelly-Thorne Connector; a 1.3-mile-long, 14-foot-wide path between Tillicum and Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest in Lakewood. That paved urban trail will run parallel to southbound I-5 and is expected to open in late fall 2026.
And in December 2024, the Hawaii Department of Transportation completed construction of the $15.7 million Leeward Bikeway – a dedicated bikeway within the former Oahu Railway & Land Company right-of-way between Philippine Sea Road in ‘Ewa and Waipahu Depot Street.
