The PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge crosses the Merrimack River in the center of Haverhill. It carries Route 125, locally known as Main Street. The bridge rests on seven spans. It has two lanes crossing the river and four lanes at the nearest intersections in Bradford and Haverhill. Each side of the bridge also supports a sidewalk. The bridge is a vital connector for the City of Haverhill. More than 25,000 vehicles per day cross the bridge. This figure includes heavy vehicles such as trucks, school buses, and Merrimack Valley Transit Authority (MEVA) buses.
All the bridge’s parts show the wear of over a century of service. Even parts that users cannot see are in poor condition with the foundations subject to scour. The scour results from the river’s current colliding with the bridge’s piers. As a result, the riverbed around the piers is eroding. Frequent inspections and repairs have kept the bridge safe for all users but continue to have a real impact on the traveling public. The limits of work for the project include the bridge and the two nearest intersections. These are Main Street/Water Street/Merrimack Street and South Main Street/Middlesex Street. A short section of Main Street going towards Ginty Boulevard is also included.
As of the summer of 2026, construction to replace the Basiliere Bridge is underway by MassDOT’s Design-Builder, Middlesex-TranSystems. It is anticipated that construction will run through spring 2032. The new bridge will improve safety for all users. Importantly, it will be built in two phases. Throughout construction, there will be one lane in each direction, and one sidewalk crossing the river. To learn more about construction staging, please see the presentation introduction the Design-Build phase.
Reconstructing a local landmark
The Basiliere Bridge is a symbol of Haverhill. It appears on the badges of City firefighters. The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and Latino Coalition also use a picture of the bridge in their logos. The new bridge is the result of a partnership between MassDOT and the Haverhill community. This partnership has produced a structure that reflects its host community and can be a source of pride for it as today’s bridge is.
Major elements of the replacement bridge that are direct results of this partnership include:
- An arched appearance that references the existing bridge.
- Under-bridge lighting that highlights the bridge’s arches at night.
- Vertical beacons that echo the existing bridge’s towers and can be lit at night.
- A central seating area to invite Haverhill community members to the bridge and enjoy views of the river
- A formally defined, four-lane cross-section with separate bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
- Reuse of the existing bridge’s tower roofs in the Bradford Rail Trail Park.
A robust public process continues into construction
The community process that has developed the design of the new Basiliere Bridge has been marked by a cooperative spirit and key elements of the replacement bridge can be attributed in a large part to input from participants in the public process.
MassDOT and its Design-Builder know that this job is in the center of a community and are committed to being good neighbors. Preconstruction surveys of abutting properties and baseline sound levels have already taken place. During demolition, MassDOT-approved dust and noise control plans will be implemented as will automated vibration monitoring. Barges will be used where applicable to help deliver materials to the bridge and remove demolition debris to help reduce truck traffic through Haverhill and Bradford. The project’s traffic management will be monitored and adjusted if needed.
Public outreach will remain an important part of the project throughout construction. Members of the Haverhill community are encouraged to sign up (link to active Gov-Delivery topic) to receive regular project updates so that they can monitor project progress and know what to expect from upcoming construction activities.
The new Basiliere Bridge’s arches recall today’s bridge.
Under-bridge lighting highlights the arches at night.
The new bridge provides separate travel ways for all modes.
The existing bridge’s tower roofs reused for gazebos in the Bradford Rail Trail park.
A robust public process continues into construction
The community process that has developed the design of the new Basiliere Bridge has been marked by a cooperative spirit and key elements of the replacement bridge can be attributed in a large part to input from participants in the public process.
MassDOT and its Design-Builder know that this job is in the center of a community and are committed to being good neighbors. Preconstruction surveys of abutting properties and baseline sound levels have already taken place. During demolition, MassDOT-approved dust and noise control plans will be implemented as will automated vibration monitoring. Barges will be used where applicable to help deliver materials to the bridge and remove demolition debris to help reduce truck traffic through Haverhill and Bradford. The project’s traffic management will be monitored and adjusted if needed.
Public outreach will remain an important part of the project throughout construction. Members of the Haverhill community are encouraged to sign up (link to active Gov-Delivery topic) to receive regular project updates so that they can monitor project progress and know what to expect from upcoming construction activities.