Boy, that was a fast three years

from Commuter Rail to the Orange Line at Malden Center is because the Orange Line service is even crappier and less reliable than dealing with the covered walkway and crossing Causeway Street under the direction of the Transit Police officers. You know, the ones who are directly timed with the traffic signals at the intersection and will not let pedestrians cross unless the light for them is green - even if there are NO cars approaching on Causeway Street.

They may have taken it down to accommodate the commencing construction that should start within the next few week

Great. In other words, "We aren't going to start heavy construction for a few weeks, but let's take the covered walkway down now because it''s convenient for US to do so". Imagine if MassDOT said "Replacement of the Commonwealth Avenue bridge has been delayed for a year. But we're going to reduce the Pike to a single lane in each direction tomorrow anyway, even though it's not immediately necessary.

And for the "But Delaware North owns the land" crowd, imagine if MassDOT said - We own the Pike, so we've decided to shut it down completely during the Comm. Ave project." I doubt you'd get people saying "Well, MassDOT owns the road, so they can do that, even though they have no legitimate reason to do so."

the MBTA issued last December:

Headhouse at North Station to Close for Upgrade

Start Date: 12/22/2015

Media Contact
MassDOT Press Office: 857-368-8500

BOSTON - Due to construction about to begin on the site of the former Boston Garden, the existing MBTA head house will be closed on Jan 2. Commuters should be aware that covered ADA accessible walkways will be put in place for MBTA customers until the developer's project is completed in December 2018.

The head house closure and demolition is needed to allow for construction of a direct connection between the Orange and Green Line Stations and the east lobby of North Station Commuter Rail. Once built, it will have long-lasting benefits for T customers, who will never again have to walk outside in extreme weather, nor cross the street to get from one station to another (as is now the case).

The developers have coordinated with T personnel to ensure safe and convenient pedestrian flow between North Station and the Green and Orange Line stations. In the interim, pedestrians will be asked to use the other entrances/exits at the Orange/Green Line Station and cross Causeway Street at the designated crosswalks. Signs will be posted and as work zones change, the signage will change accordingly.

Pedestrian travel paths will remain the same for the majority of the project, except for some minor adjustments that will occur throughout the course of the project. The changes will be announced well in advance and appropriate sinage (sic) will be put in place. Entrances to North Station Commuter Rail station and waiting area will remain open throughout the duration of the project.

Extra MBTA Customer Service personnel will be on duty for the first month or more of the head house closure to help any customers who may need assistance.

When finished, there will be a covered, underground connection from the commuter rail to the subway and a new entrance to North Station via Causeway Street.

The overall development project includes 210,000 square feet of retail, 700,000 square feet of office space, 440 residential units and a 260-room hotel. Construction is being performed by John Moriarty & Associates (JMA).

Doesn't say anything about the covered walkway being removed from time to time for the contractor's convenience. And personally witnessing a portion of the covered walkway being removed during my normal daily commute - I use the connection twice a day, five days a week - doesn't exactly qualify as giving notice "well in advance".

BTW, I had to go back into the MBTA's news archives to find this because information about the temporary covered walkway is no longer contained in the service alerts sections for either the Green or the Orange Lines.