UPDATED: State Plans to Close Central Street Bridge Just Before The Holiday

Editor’s Note: Originally posted at 8:18 p.m. on Nov. 25.

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Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin informed Selectmen tonight, Nov. 25, that the state plans to close the Central Street Bridge on Dec. 22.

When the bridge closes, Halpin, told Selectmen, it is not scheduled to re-open until August 2015.

The goal of Massachusetts Department of Transportation is to re-open the bridge for the return of students to school in August.

“School busing is aware of the closure and has been planning accordingly,” Halpin said in a memo to Selectmen.

Town of Framingham met with MassDOT this week on the state project.

The project consists of replacing the existing Central Street bridge over the Sudbury River in Saxonville, in its present location, with minor improvements to the approach roadways.

Work on the retaining wall at Water Street should be completed before the Central Street bridge closes.

In a memo to Selectmen, Halpin wrote “the contractor may work extended hours, weekends, and overnights. The Town voiced concerns for overnight work, with this being a very residential area. Before any night work may be entertained the Town would need to be involved on a discussion.

The contractor and MassDOT had concerns over plowing town roads that could block access to the site, once the bridge is closed.

The state’s intention is to work through the winter, and may be difficult if Town plows push snow up to the jersey barriers at either side of the bridge approaches.

Work on the Central Street bridge was scheduled to be started once the Wickford Road Bridge was completed.

The main reason is that the Wickford Bridge will be the detour for motorists when the Central Street Bridge closes.

The state closed Wickford Bridge in March 2013, with the state setting a fall 2013 opening. The bridge did not re-open until July 2014.