The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is scrambling to reopen a key Boston-area drawbridge after the discovery of deck panel cracks forced an emergency shutdown of the structure on Oct. 15.
The bridge, a temporary two-lane steel structure spanning the Saugus River, was installed in 2013 to maintain traffic on State Route 107 between the towns of Saugus and Lynn during the reconstruction of the Belden G. Bly Bridge, which was closed that same year after the $12 million temporary crossing was completed, according to MassDOT. Along with a crack in a structural roof panel, the agency says inspectors identified other sets of roof panels that require replacement.
While it was initially estimated to be closed for up to two weeks, local media reports say MassDOT expects the 24-hour repair effort will allow the temporary crossing to reopen on Oct. 20. The structure’s drawbridge remains operational to accommodate marine traffic during the outage.
The disruption comes as SPS New England nears completion of a five-year, $99.3 million project to replace the original Bly Bridge, also known as the Fox Hill Drawbridge, with a three-span, four-lane single-leaf drawbridge. The crossing, due to open in 2026, will feature a 77-foot-long movable span that rotates on a heel, according to engineer-of-record STV. Because of the roadway’s proximity to high tide, the counterweight and mechanical equipment is located on top, thus separating the mechanical and electrical systems from the water without the need for expensive enclosed foundation pits.
The project also includes new abutments and retaining walls with driven pile foundations, reconstruction of the bridge approaches, integration of sidewalks and bike lanes, and reconfiguration of a nearby intersection to improve traffic flow. An 18 day the water main is being moved to a ditch on the inner side of the new bridge. Once the new bridge is open, SPS will remove the temporary crossing as the final phase of the project.
