HAVERHILL — With construction already underway the community will get a glimpse this week on how the state plans to replace two bridges including one spanning the Merrimack River on Interstate 495.
A public hearing on the projects to supplant the existing I-495 bridge, which straddles both Haverhill and Methuen, and the nearby Industrial Avenue bridge over I-495 in Haverhill will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St., in Room 301.
In October, staged construction began to replace the bridges that were both built in the early 1960s and have reached the end of their useful life, but are still safe, according to a public hearing notice by the state and presentation by MassDOT last year.
The projected cost of their replacement and related improvements is $400 million.
The Industrial Avenue bridge will be condensed from two separate structures into one bridge with a single lane each way. The lane reduction is to better align with existing traffic volume, according to the state.
Alongside safety benefits the I-495 project will reduce the bridge’s footprint in the Merrimack River, according to a posting by the city of Haverhill. The project also involves the creation of a sound barrier.
The initial stage of construction includes clearing shrubs and trestle construction in the Merrimack River to support bridge work. Design work on the bridge replacements began around 2020.
During construction, the state recommends drivers slow down and exercise caution. So far, the project has already resulted in the closure of some on- or off-ramps on specific dates and times.
On Monday night and into early Tuesday morning a handful of highway entrances and exits were closed and on Thursday night, starting at 9 p.m., into Friday morning, ending at 5 a.m., the on-ramp from Industrial Avenue to I-495 southbound will be closed.
For more information on the latest traffic updates visit: mass.gov/info-details/traffic-and-construction-updates-haverhill-methuen-bridge-replacements
Along with the replacement of the bridges an attached section of Route 110 will also be repaved with the total project taking place over a 1.5 mile long stretch of road.
The state held a virtual public hearing for the project on Feb. 1, 2024. To watch a recording visit: youtube.com/watch?v=laAll1DbOUE
Questions about the project can be submitted to haverhill-methuen-bridge-repl@dot.state.ma.us