Traffic and construction updates - Basiliere Bridge project - Haverhill

Project status and construction and traffic management updates

Construction Lookahead – September 20th through September 27th

PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge

Activities

• Relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables.

Traffic Impacts by Time of Day

• For the relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables:
  • The right southbound (towards Bradford) lane will be shifted and the left northbound (towards downtown Haverhill) will be closed, Monday to Friday, between 9:30AM and 3:30PM for the week addressed by this lookahead.
  • Monday to Friday between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM, for the week addressed by this lookahead, the bridge’s western (upstream) sidewalk will become part of the work zone. Pedestrians will be direction to the use the eastern sidewalk. Pedestrians may request assistance from the police detail when crossing the intersections at either end of the bridge.
    • Motorists are requested to exercise caution and courtesy when traveling through these intersections as the volume of crossing pedestrians may be higher than normal.
    • Pedestrians are requested to obey all warning devices, cones, barrels etc. placed by MassDOT’s design-builder. What may appear to be a safe sidewalk at one end of the bridge can lead to an active construction area forcing you to walk in the road. Please cross safely at the intersections.

Noise impacts:

• Noise levels will be similar to normal traffic operations with vehicles running to deliver material and personnel as well as power tools operating to relocate telephone and electric cables.

Route 125/Middlesex Street

The Bradford Rail Trail is operating as normal at this time.

Activities

• Relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables.
• Preparation of the route to detour the trail to the Route 125/Middlesex Street intersection.

Traffic Impacts by Time of Day

• For the relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables:
  • The right southbound (towards Bradford) lane will be shifted and the left northbound (towards downtown Haverhill) will be closed, Monday to Friday, between 9:30AM and 3:30PM for the week addressed by this lookahead.
  • Closure of the western sidewalk leading onto the Basiliere Bridge, Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM for the week addressed by this lookahead. All businesses accessed by the western sidewalk approaching the bridge will remain accessible to pedestrians.
• For the preparation of the detour route, cyclists and pedestrians may use the Bradford Rail Trail as normal during this time. Please watch for equipment and pay close attention to directions from the flagger. There may be brief pauses in trail traffic to allow equipment to move around the site safely. 

Noise impacts:

• Noise levels will be slightly elevated above traffic operations with vehicles running to deliver material and personnel as well as power tools operating to relocate telephone and electric cables and prepare the route for the Bradford Rail Trail detour.

Route 125/Merrimack Street/Water Street

Access to the Dempsey Board walk is as normal at this time.

Activities

• Relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables.

Traffic Impacts by Time of Day

• For the relocation of National Grid electric and Verizon telephone cables:
  • The right southbound (towards Bradford) lane will be shifted and the left northbound (towards downtown Haverhill) will be closed, Monday to Friday, between 9:30AM and 3:30PM for the week addressed by this lookahead.
  • Closure of the western sidewalk leading onto the Basiliere Bridge, Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM for the week addressed by this lookahead. All businesses accessed by the western sidewalk approaching the bridge will remain accessible to pedestrians. 

Noise impacts:

• Noise levels will be similar to normal traffic operations with vehicles running to deliver material and personnel as well as power tools operating to relocate telephone and electric cables.

Merrimack River below the Bridge

Activities

• Preparatory work for the relocation of National Grid gas line.

Travel Impacts by Time of Day

• For preparatory work to relocate the National Grid gas line:
  • A construction barge has been established at the bridge site outside of the navigation channel and will not impact boat traffic on the Merrimack. The barge is lit at each corner for nighttime visibility. Additional public notice will be provided if an impact on navigation becomes necessary. 

Noise impacts:

• Noise will be similar to background levels on the river with machinery running to provide access to the underside of the bridge and power tools operating to undertake preparatory work to move the gas line.

South Kimball Street Laydown Site

Activities

• Storage of equipment, materials, and vehicles between shifts or when not immediately needed at the bridge itself.

Traffic Impacts by Time of Day

• Single vehicles may enter or exit the yard at any time during day or night shifts to deliver personnel or equipment. 

Noise impacts:

• Noise levels may briefly be elevated above background levels while vehicles enter or exit the facility or stage equipment. Crews have been directed to operate as efficiently as possible and reminded that they are near homes and to act accordingly, especially at night.

Completed Work

• Relocation of Verizon telephone and National Grid electric cables: 85%
• Clearing of vegetation along the Bradford Rail Trail for the detour route: Complete

This anticipated schedule for this major infrastructure project is subject to change without notice due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

It is currently anticipated that:

• The stage 1A work zone will be established on the Basiliere Bridge beginning on the night Sunday, September 27^th with the work zone in place by the early morning of Monday, September 28^th.
  • When the stage 1A work zone is established on the 27th, it will be defined by pavement markings, creating a single lane towards Haverhill and a single lane towards Bradford. On the night of September 28^th, the work zone will be further delineated by barrier.
  • Once this takes place, the left turn to Merrimack Street will be prohibited.
  • All businesses in Bradford and Haverhill remain open and ready to serve you, however, MassDOT encourages all drivers who can avoid the area to cross the Merrimack River on I-495. Routes to I-495 from Bradford and Haverhill can be found online.
• The Bradford Rail Trail will be detoured with cyclists and pedestrians routed through the intersection of State Route 125 and Middlesex Street.
• More information will be provided in the lookahead addressing the week of September 27^th.