Repairs on the Howe Street Bridge over Route 213 in Methuen are complete.
The state Department of Transportation said the bridge opened completely Friday after installation of new beams, reconstruction and paving of the deck and lane markings that began in March. The bridge was damaged last July when the over-height arm of an excavator being towed struck the bridge. Methuen Mayor Neil Perry said he appreciates the relatively fast work to complete repairs.
“We were able to minimize the timeline and the impact to the citizens of Methuen by expanding the initial repair plan, and appreciated the regular weekly communication and updates from MassDOT,” Perry said.
Emergency repairs were made immediately after the accident to allow traffic to safely travel through the area, followed by design of permanent repairs that included replacing an outside concrete beam and the next two interior beams.
Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said his department appreciates the patience of the public while the traffic restriction was in place.