Work Begins To Replace Busy, Route 28 Bridge In Andover

ANDOVER, MA -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has started work on a $7 million project to completely replace a bridge that spans commuter railroad tracks in Andover. The project has been broken into two phases so that a portion of the bridge can remain open during reconstruction and limit the impact on residents and commuters. The project is one of the last in MassDOT's accelerated bridge replacement program.

At certain points during each phase, only one lane will be open across the bridge. As of Thursday afternoon, traffic was still flowing in both directions. The current phase is expected to continue through the winter, and the second phase will begin next spring.

Subscribe to Andover Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

The project was contracted to MAS Building and Bridge Inc. and includes The project includes replacement of the southern abutment/pier and portions of the northern abutment. The superstructure will be replaced with a steel stringer bridge, with a permanent utility bridge to carry all utilities.

More than 25,000 cars use the stretch of road on a daily basis. Final landscaping and utility work is expected to continue through next summer, according to MassDOT.

Photo by Dave Copeland.