Bates Bridge Project Shows Progress

The ongoing work to build a new Bates Bridge over the Merrimack River in Haverhill and Groveland will be making visible progress in spring 2011.

The $49.7 million project is building a new bridge located approximately 60 feet downstream from the existing bridge.  The existing bridge carrying Routes 97/113 over the river remains open during construction. The replacement bridge will have a movable span similar to the existing bridge.  In addition to the new bridge, the project will move and reconstruct the approach roadways in Haverhill and Groveland, including traffic signal and other improvements in both communities.

In recent days and weeks, the contractor working from two barges installed cofferdams to allow for work in building the new bridge drilled shaft foundations and concrete piers.  A cofferdam is an enclosure within the water area constructed to allow water to be pumped out to create a dry work environment. In addition to the bridge foundation work, which will become visible in the coming months, overhead and underground utility relocation work also continues.

The major MassDOT bridge project is scheduled for completion in early 2014. 

Comments

[Herb Bergh]

is there an Artist / Architect rendition of the new Bates Bridge that you can post for people to see?
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Herb: Here is the latest project summary as of early February 2012:

The project consists of the replacement of the existing Bates Bridge over the Merrimack River with a new bridge located approximately 60 feet downstream. The existing bridge will remain in service during construction.

The majority of work within the river continues to be staged from two working barges that are in place to support heavy construction activities. The contractor
continues to work on the installation of cement concrete on various elements of piers 1, 2 and 4. The contractor has completed the majority of the work associated with the installation of the drilled shafts at pier 3. Work is continuing on the construction of the fender system in the
channel near pier 3 with several piles having been driven thus far.

Additional project information and history can be found by visiting MassDOT’s website at:
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us and clicking on the Projects tab, then selecting “Current Road and
Bridge Projects” and after entering the Town of Groveland or the City of Haverhill, select Project No.
600988.

[Lenny Sullivan]

Please in this day and age I also hope for safe bike lane and pedestrian crossing.

[MassDOT]

Regarding various questions raised:

The wearing surface on approach spans will be bituminous concrete. Wearing surface on the moveable, bascule span will be a lightweight concrete overlay with an epoxy urethane coating. Full shoulders (9-10 feet) will be provided on both sides of the bridge, tapering down as the roadway approaches the intersections on either end. There will also be a 7-8 foot sidewalk on one side of the bridge.

The project is at the stage where no significant design changes can be entertained.

[Tom Baldwin]

I would hope the new bridge design is made safe for children, family's and others to walk and bicycle across.

[bill schmidt]

Good to see that old bridge being replaced, it would be a great idea to build bike and walking lanes into the structure as well, so it can serve the broadest possible constituency.

[Mary-Alice Tully]

Great news, best of luck with the construction. I look forward to riding across the new bridge on a safe bicycle lane!

[E Fearnley]

Is there a plan for a bike lane on the new bridge? I ride over the existing bridge frequently and it is very dangerous surface for bicycles. Hopefully alternate transportation was taken into account with the new bridge design to allow for bike and pedestrian pathways.

[Jay Batson]

Oh, and if the state is listening...

If Rocks Bridge is anywhere in the planning stages, the same concerns apply there - maybe more-so; since Rocks has less auto traffic, it's more frequented by cyclists.

[Robert Lambe]

The Rt 97 bridge connecting Georgetown and Haverill is a critical crossing of the Merrimack River, used by many cyclists and cycling clubs in northeast Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. The current bridge has a metal grating that provides a very dangerous surface for cyclists. In fact, on other bridges of this type, there have been several serious cycling accidents. I would implore the state to consider a sidewalk or surface material that would provide a safe crosssing for cyclists, so we can continue to enjoy the great rides through the Merrimack Valley and surroundings.

[Jim Goldberg]

What accommodation is being made for cyclists using the new bridge? Will there be a bike lane or adequate shoulder width for bike traffic? Many bike riders use the existing bridge, so it would be great to see a safer crossing put into place.

[Jay Batson]

This bridge is commonly used by cyclists to cross the Merrimack. On any given weekend day, there are several hundred bikes crossing the bridge in both directions. Weekday traffic is lower, but not zero.

The existing bridge uses a grid metal bed; this is very dangerous to ride on. There is also no "shoulder" either direction, so bikes must ride in the middle of the lane during the entire crossing in order to prevent cars from pushing the bikes off the bridge while attempting to pass.

I have two questions:

1) Is the roadbed on the new bridge going to be asphalt? This would increase safety dramatically. If it is not, is there an opportunity to have a public dialog about the roadbed choice soon enough to be able to get it into the construction effectively?

2) Does the planned lane width incorporate a shoulder that would be wie enough to permit cycles to ride across the bridge adjacent to traffic, so that we don't need to slow traffic crossing the bridge? If not, ditto the question about a public dialog about this.