Future Cancer Hospital: Construction Updates

March 06, 2026

Construction Near BIDMC’s West Campus Brings Changes

Construction on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's future cancer hospital at One Joslin Place, a major part of the Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration, begins March 16, 2026, and will continue until the new hospital opens in 2031. During this time, patient safety and easy access to BIDMC and surrounding facilities will remain our top priorities.

Starting March 16, patients, visitors and people who work in the area will notice changes to traffic, pedestrian and bicycle access and public transit near the site. We will post regular updates on this page and provide clear directional signage to help guide you to maintain safe access for patients, staff and visitors.

Traffic, Transit, & Pedestrian Updates

During construction, Joslin Place and Joslin Park will be closed to all car and pedestrian traffic, with vehicles redirected to nearby streets. Pilgrim Road near the site will have directional changes. In addition, there will be changes to sidewalks, bike lanes and transit stops. Please allow extra travel time and follow posted signs and directions from on-site staff and police details.

BIDMC Work Zone Map for New Cancer Hospital

Summary of Changes

Joslin Park & Joslin Place: Closed to pedestrians and vehicles
Pilgrim Road: New traffic flow and directional patterns
Sidewalks: Full closures around Joslin Park; partial closures on Pilgrim Road and Brookline Avenue (ADA routes maintained and pathways clearly marked)
Bike Lane: Portion of Brookline Avenue lane closes; cyclists merge into traffic
Transit: MBTA stop 1521 and LMA Shuttle at 435 Brookline Avenue moved farther up Brookline Avenue alongside Rosenberg building
Construction Zone: Fencing and directional signs added around entire site
Safety: Police details at construction entrance (Brookline Avenue)/exit (Pilgrim Road) and intersection of Longwood Avenue and Pilgrim Road
Delays: Increased traffic expected

Construction Timeline

March 2026 – November 2026: To prepare the site for construction, we are carefully removing the former Joslin Diabetes Center building.
November 2026 – December 2029: Construction includes foundation and underground work to prepare the site for the next phase of building.
April 2028 – October 2029: The building’s structure and exterior begin to take shape during this phase of construction.
September 2028 – November 2030: This phase focuses on interior construction and finishing work throughout the building.
Fall 2030: Construction is complete.
2031: The building is ready to welcome our first patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will sidewalks and accessible (ADA) routes remain available?

Yes. Accessible routes will be maintained via signed detours. Sidewalks adjacent to the construction site — on Brookline Avenue, one side of Deaconess Road, Joslin Place, and one side of Pilgrim Road — will be closed. Pedestrians will be redirected as needed using ADA-accessible crosswalks and clearly marked detour routes.

How will construction affect patient parking and valet services?

We do not expect major changes to patient parking or valet services. However, traffic and delays may occur near the construction site. Please allow extra time when arriving for an appointment or when dropping off or picking someone up.

Are ride-share (Uber/Lyft), taxis, and patient transport pick-ups affected?

Pick-up/drop-off locations may shift during active work. Please follow signage and on-site directions and allow extra time.

What are the typical construction hours?

Construction work will comply with the City of Boston Noise Ordinance and all permitted work-hour requirements.

How are you reducing construction impacts in the Longwood area?

Construction crews will use careful deconstruction techniques on the former Joslin building to minimize noise and vibration during that part of the project. They will actively monitor vibration at select locations to confirm levels remain within established limits. Rodent control will be initiated prior to the start of work. To help control dust, crews will install additional filtration at nearby air intakes, and protective staging will be installed along Brookline Avenue. Window and overhead sidewalk protection is installed near adjacent buildings.

Police traffic details are stationed at the construction site entrance on Brookline Avenue entrance and site exit on Pilgrim Road to help traffic flow and keep ambulances and patient drop-off moving smoothly. To further reduce traffic impacts, the work team uses a scheduled delivery program; delivery trucks must check in and are assigned to a specific arrival window. Trucks that miss their window must reschedule which helps prevent construction vehicles from lining up on surrounding streets.

Will emergency access routes or ambulance operations change?

Yes. Joslin Place is closed, so ambulances will use alternate routes to reach Beth Israel’s Deaconess Medical Center’s Rosenberg Emergency Department during construction.

Will there be impacts on nearby businesses and residents?

Nearby businesses are expected to remain open, though access routes may change. Some traffic and pedestrian detours are expected during work hours. We will post major upcoming milestones to this page. The construction work will adhere to the City of Boston Noise Ordinance.

Where will I go for my appointment at Joslin Diabetes Center?

Joslin Diabetes Center’s Adult, Pediatric, Eye clinics, as well as the Clinical Research Center, have moved to permanent locations on BIDMC’s East Campus and will continue to operate as usual. You can find specific locations and more information by visiting the Joslin Diabetes Center's website.