Those traveling South Elm Street in Bradford will be unable to pass between Railroad and Laurel Avenues overnight a week from Friday because of railroad bridge construction work.
State transportation officials say automobile traffic under the bridge, near the commuter rail station, won’t be possible from Friday, March 21, at 9 p.m., through Saturday morning at 6. Traffic will be detoured as crews install precast abutment caps for the new railroad bridge. The intersection of Laurel Avenue, South Elm Street and Blossom Street will be closed to through traffic.
As WHAV has reported, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority—or MBTA—said it plans to replace the 1906 bridge with a modern single-span structure with a useful life of 75 years. It carries Haverhill Line commuter rail, Amtrak’s Downeaster service and freight trains between the downtown Haverhill and Bradford commuter rail stations. The project includes a ballasted steel deck for a smoother passenger ride and roadway and sidewalk and drainage improvements along South Elm Street.
Officials say the existing bridge is too narrow and requires speed restrictions which add to commuter travel times. 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.
This summer, the old bridge is scheduled to be removed completely and a new one slid into its place over a single weekend.
The downtown Haverhill Station temporarily closed last July to MBTA commuter rail passengers. A shuttle bus carries passengers between the Haverhill and Bradford Stations.