Background
Water Street Bridge (State 2A) over Boulder Drive and Pan Am Railroad was built in 1900 and rehabilitated in 1953. It carries about 20,000 vehicles from Route 12 to Main Street in Fitchburg daily. The bridge is also used by pedestrians and cyclists. Boulder Drive running East underneath the bridge carries over 5,000 vehicles daily. Fitchburg State University is located north of the bridge and welcomes over 5,000 students to campus each year. The Market Basket shopping plaza is just south of the bridge.
Water Street Bridge (Route 12) over the Nashua River was constructed in 1937 and rehabilitated in 1967. It carries two lanes of traffic and over 20,000 vehicles daily over the Nashua River. Located three miles south of the bridge is the Fitchburg Municipal Airport and access to Route 2.
Both bridges were recently inspected. Due to their age and deterioration, MassDOT determined that replacements were necessary. Water Street leads to the City’s Central Business District. The street is a critical route traveled by many to get to and from the area’s major institutions.
MassDOT has assembled a team to replace these critical bridges. The bridge over the Nashua River (F-04-018) will have its superstructure replaced. The bridge over Boulder Drive and Pan Am Railroad (F-04-017) will be fully replaced. The project will also improve cyclist and pedestrian accommodations within the project areas
Schedule and Process
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. Circle Street Bridge and River Street Bridges will be constructed beforehand in 2022-2024.
MassDOT will use staged construction to maintain vehicular and pedestrian access during construction. One-way alternating traffic is anticipated over the Nashua River. Lane reductions and lane shifts are anticipated on Water Street over Boulder Drive.
Funding for this project will likely come from the 2021 Transportation Improvement Program.
Stay Informed
To receive project updates, attend public information meetings, and get more information on the project, we invite you to sign up for the project’s e-list to receive meeting notifications and project updates.