Boston set to rename bridge near TD Garden after Bill Russell
The city of Boston already has roadways named for Ted Williams and David Ortiz. Now, another is being rechristened in honor of a local sports legend.
The bridge that connects the North End to Charlestown, just east of TD Garden, soon will be known as the William Felton “Bill” Russell Bridge, Mayor Michelle Wu’s office announced Friday.
The name change will be formally recognized Monday in a press conference featuring Russell’s widow, Jeannine Russell; state and local officials; and Celtics players and leadership.
Russell, who died in 2022 at age 88, was a titanic figure in Celtics history, leading the franchise to 11 championships in his 13 NBA seasons (including two as a player-coach). He was a 12-time All-Star, a five-time NBA MVP and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.
After Russell’s death, NBA commissioner Adam Silver retired his No. 6 league-wide, making him the first NBA player and the third in major North American pro sports (after Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky) to receive that honor. Russell’s number has been retired by the Celtics since 1972.
This latest honor, however, aims to celebrate Russell’s off-the-court accomplishments, including his extensive work as a champion of civil rights.
“The bridge renaming will honor his dedication to civil rights and the fostering of Boston’s youth and young athletes,” Wu’s office said in a statement.
Barack Obama presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010, and Boston unveiled a statue of the Celtics icon in City Hall Plaza in 2013.
Previously known as the Charlestown Bridge and the North Washington Street Bridge, the Charles River-spanning structure that will bear Russell’s name is nearing the end of a years-long renovation project that began in 2018.