The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently issued an “invitation to bid” for the redevelopment of approximately 20 acres of waterfront property near the City of Fall River.
[Above photo by MassDOT]
Created through the Route 79 / Davol Street Corridor Improvements Project and located adjacent to the new Fall River Depot commuter rail station operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – a division of MassDOT – the agency said this site offers a “rare opportunity” for large-scale, transit-oriented development that can deliver new housing, jobs and long-term economic growth for the South Coast.
[Editor’s note: The Route 79/Davol Street was one of 11 state department of transportation projects that earned a regional award in the 2026 America’s Transportation Awards competition.]
MassDOT noted that developers will have the opportunity to transform former highway land into new housing, commercial space, and public amenities while taking advantage of direct access to commuter rail service and the waterfront, with proposals accepted through October 21.
“We’re turning decades of planning and infrastructure investment into an opportunity to build more housing, create jobs, and reconnect Fall River with its waterfront,” said Governor Maura Healey (D) in a statement.
[Editor’s note: Concurrently, the governor’s office also unveiled new design renderings of the new Sagamore Bridge structure that will replace the aging Cape Cod Bridges. The new renderings showcase key design features, including separate bridge spans to improve safety, a barrier-separated shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists, upgraded roadway connections, and new architecture.]
“With South Coast Rail now connecting Fall River to the rest of the region, this site is uniquely positioned for transit-oriented development that will bring new homes, new businesses and new energy to the city,” she added. “We’re excited to invite developers to help shape the future of this incredible waterfront and continue building on the momentum happening across the South Coast.”
“By transforming the Route 79 corridor into a multimodal boulevard, investing in South Coast Rail, and improving connections between neighborhoods and the waterfront, we are glad to now release the invitation to bid on this transit-oriented development site,” added noted Phil Eng, interim MassDOT secretary and MBTA’s general manager. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a former highway corridor into a vibrant neighborhood where people can live, work, and enjoy Fall River’s waterfront.”
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