Continuing work on the $102 million I-495 Haverhill bridge replacement project means daytime lane closures—both northbound and southbound—in Haverhill this week.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation says a single right lane closures on I-495 northbound, between exits 48 and 49, takes place daily from Monday, June 22, through Thursday, June 25, from 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
There will also be a single left lane closures on I-495 southbound, between exits 49/50 and 48, daily from Monday, June 22, through Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Lane closures are necessary for pier protection barrier work.
To date, three lanes of a new northbound bridge have been completed and are carrying traffic. The new bridges are designed to last 75 years as opposed to the existing bridges built less than 60 years ago. Officials say the goals are to eliminate “constant emergency repair work,” improve roadway safety with full-width breakdown lanes and provide a dedicated exit lane on the northbound bridge for exit 49, near Westgate Center.
The old, twin bridges are 712 feet long with four piers per bridge in the Merrimack River. The new bridges use two piers each. The federal government is paying 80% of the project cost with the state pay the remaining 20%.