New Fore River Bridge Gets Early Opening

WEYMOUTH, MA — Say goodbye to the old Fore River Bridge, the new one has opened earlier than expected.

Saturday, the new bridge fully opened, with two lanes of traffic going each way, the state Department of Transportation announced. The opening comes weeks earlier than expected

“We are pleased to have opened two lanes of traffic in each direction on the new Fore River Bridge which serves as an important link between Quincy and Weymouth and the South Shore region,” Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack said in a release. “We have appreciated the cooperation of the traveling public, civic leaders, and local community throughout our construction operations and look forward to completing this bridge replacement project.”

The opening ends the transition that took place over the summer and brought the bridge down to one way each way. The new bridge has a higher lift span, quicker raise time, and a solid and quieter concrete deck.

The new bridge is the third movable bridge at this location, the first being a swing bridge constructed in the early 20th century. The 1902 swing bridge was replaced by a bascule bridge in 1936 when it was determined that the earlier bridge presented a hazard to navigation of the river. In the late 1990's the 1936 bridge was found to be deteriorated and traffic was directed off it and onto the existing temporary bridge.

The Fore River Bridge is located at the Quincy-Weymouth line.

Image via MassDOT