Tree Clearing Begins for Andover Railroad Bridge Project

Preliminary work is under way in Andover for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) bridge replacement project on North Main Street, route 28, above the MBTA’s Haverhill commuter rail line.

Tree clearing work began recently adjacent to the existing bridge near the intersection of North Main and Railroad streets, Andover, according to a statement Monday from MassDOT. Utility relocation of overhead wires will follow before a fall, 2016 scheduled start of structural work by contractor MAS Building and Bridge, Inc., Norfolk. The new bridge is expected to be complete in the fall of 2018.

“The bridge carries Route 28 (North Main Street), an urban minor arterial on the National Highway System, over the MBTA railroad tracks. The southern abutment/pier and portions of the northern abutment will be replaced. The superstructure will be replaced with a steel stringer bridge,” said MassDOT spokesperson Eric Martinez. “A permanent utility bridge will carry all utilities.”

During the bridge project, steps will be taken, according to MassDOT, “to minimize to the extent possible impacts associated with the construction of the project.” The construction site is also near the Andover commuter rail station on Railroad Street.