Traffic along busy South Main Street was curtailed yesterday when what was described as a “sinkhole” emerged on the Bradford side of the Basiliere bridge.
Traffic was reduced to one lane while the city opened the road near Middlesex Street to assess the problem and repair damaged utilities.
Traffic congestion on the street has been the subject of complaints since the state reconstructed portions of Route 125 on both sides of the Merrimack River. Mayor James J. Fiorentini last year complained about the lack of traffic light synchronization. Last week, city councilors also asked the state to review the project and also referred the matter to its Traffic and Safety subcommittee.
In 2016, Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua urged the state to install a temporary bridge somewhere adjacent to Basiliere Bridge when work to repair of replace the structure commences.