State Says S. Elm Street Rail Bridge Project Progressing, Amtrak to Shift to Shuttle One Weekend

Demolition of the Old Georgetown Branch Bridge. (Massachusetts Department of Transportation photograph.)

State transportation officials say Amtrak train service through Haverhill will shift to shuttle buses over a long weekend this summer when a new South Elm Street railroad bridge in Bradford is slid into place.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials say the bridge replacement project is on schedule after beginning last summer. To date crews demolished the Old Georgetown Branch Bridge and outbound track of the South Elm Street Bridge, installed micropiles to strengthen existing bridge abutments and began installation of tiebacks to reinforce the new bridge.

The current bridge was built in 1906 and now carries more than 40 trains daily, including commuter rail, Amtrak passenger rail and CSX freight service. Officials say it is beyond its useful life, too narrow and requires restricting speeds to 10 miles per hour which adds to commuter travel times.

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