Project reconnects neighborhoods to the waterfront, improves transportation safety and opens approximately 20 acres for new housing and economic development
FALL RIVER– Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – Press Release – Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll today joined state and local officials in Fall River to celebrate the completion of major improvements to the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor, a $115 million investment that reconnects neighborhoods to the Taunton River waterfront, improves safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and creates new opportunities for housing, jobs and economic growth.
The project replaced a mile-long elevated highway with a new urban boulevard, creating safer connections between Fall River neighborhoods and the waterfront while opening approximately 20 acres of land for future development. Located next to the MBTA’s new Fall River Depot commuter rail station, the site offers one of the region’s largest opportunities for transit-oriented development, with the potential to bring new housing, businesses, public spaces and economic activity to the South Coast.
“For too long, Route 79 separated Fall River neighborhoods from their waterfront. Today, we’re changing that,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This project is creating safer roads, better connections and new opportunities to build housing, support local businesses and bring more people to Fall River’s waterfront. Combined with the return of commuter rail service to the South Coast, we’re making it easier for people to get where they need to go and helping Fall River build for the future.”
“This is a major milestone for Fall River and a great example of how transportation investments can transform a community,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By reconnecting neighborhoods to the waterfront, improving access for pedestrians, and opening up land for future development, we’re creating new opportunities for residents and businesses. We’re excited to build on this progress with the city and local partners to bring more housing, jobs and economic growth to the South Coast.”
“The Route 79-Davol Street project is an example of how infrastructure investments are an investment in economic growth, improving quality of life and transforming communities” said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, MassDOT was able to implement safety and mobility upgrades that will improve connectivity for Fall River, while also opening up parcels for a major mixed-use development opportunity. We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Fall River to develop these parcels and bring new housing, jobs, and economic opportunity to the South Coast.”
“Thanks to the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the city of Fall River, completion of the Route 79/Davol Street project is the culmination of a yearslong effort to design a corridor that matches the mobility needs of the region, supports the city’s future economic development plans, and creates new opportunities for accessing the city’s waterfront,” said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “Additionally, recognizing the impacts that transportation investments have connecting people to jobs, housing, and educational opportunities, as one of our larger projects, Davol Street also symbolizes our efforts at ensuring our investments are rooted in regional equity.”
“I am excited to see the long-awaited Route 79/Davol Street project now completed, which will open up so many opportunities for the Fall River waterfront,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. The significance of this new access to the waterfront will greatly impact the neighborhood for generations to come, spurring growth in commerce, tourism, and recreational activities all along the waterfront. I’ve worked closely with the Healey-Driscoll administration to commit significant resources to increase access to Fall River and the South Coast. With the new Commuter Rail station now fully operational, this area is poised to be a destination attraction and a large part of Fall River’s ongoing revitalization.”
“The redevelopment of the Route 79/Davol Street corridor is vital to the local economy. The improved access to the waterfront along with the land that will be developable because of this project’s completion will have a lasting positive impact on the City of Fall River. I want to thank the Healey Driscoll administration for providing the funding needed to make this project a reality,” stated Mayor Paul Coogan.
Construction on the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor Improvements Project began in 2023. The project transformed the former elevated highway into a street-level urban boulevard designed to improve safety, mobility and access to the Taunton River waterfront.
The improvements include new pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, four cross-street connections between neighborhoods and the waterfront, approximately two miles of sidewalks and more than two miles of shared-use paths. The project also includes upgraded traffic signals, landscaping, stormwater infrastructure and opportunities for new public green spaces.
The project was completed using union labor and has received national and regional recognition for its design and community impact, including the 2026 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Quality of Life/Community Development Award and the 2025 American Society of Highway Engineers New England Project of the Year Award for projects over $100 million.
In addition to improving transportation safety and access, the project has opened approximately 20 acres of waterfront property for redevelopment, creating a major opportunity to bring new housing, businesses and public amenities to Fall River.
Earlier this year, MassDOT released an Invitation to Bid seeking proposals to transform the former highway land into a vibrant, mixed-use district that reflects the community’s vision for the Davol Street Corridor. The site is located along the Taunton River, adjacent to the new Fall River Depot commuter rail station, offering opportunities to build housing and commercial space with direct access to public transportation, the waterfront and downtown Fall River.
The Route 79-Davol Street project builds on Governor Healey’s historic investments in transportation, housing and economic development across the South Coast. In March 2025, the administration launched South Coast Rail, restoring passenger rail service to Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton for the first time in 65 years. The administration also awarded $5 million to improve infrastructure along Fall River’s Alden Street Corridor to support hundreds of new homes near commuter rail, $1.5 million in tax credits to transform a historic downtown Fall River building into 22 new homes, and nearly $1 million to improve Fall River’s City Pier. In New Bedford, the administration invested $18.1 million in the redevelopment of Leonard’s Wharf, helping secure an additional $24.4 million in federal funding to strengthen the region’s maritime economy. Together, these investments are helping build more housing, create jobs, improve transportation connections and unlock new opportunities for South Coast communities.
The bid submission deadline was October 21, 2026. MassDOT will continue working through the development selection process and coordinating with the City of Fall River and local stakeholders on the future of the waterfront property.
