New Fore River Bridge Span to be Floated and Installed Monday Morning

WEYMOUTH, MA — The Fore River Bridge project takes a big step forward Monday when the bridge span will be floated and installed.

The state's Department of Transportation announced Friday that new span for the bridge is scheduled to be floated during high tide on a barge on the Fore River, through the marine channel and secured into place in the bridge superstructure. The scheduled float of the new lift span is anticipated to begin at approximately 3 a.m. but it weather dependent.

During the float and installation of the new lift span next week, drivers will still be permitted to travel across the current temporary Fore River Bridge. There will be no vehicle traffic restrictions necessary for drivers using Route 3A and crossing between Quincy and Weymouth, MassDOT officials said.

The lift span is 324 feet long, 78.5 feet wide and varies in height from 33.5 feet at each end to 43.5 at its center point.

The bridge was built in 1936. In the late 1990s, the bridge was found to be deteriorating and the decision was made that a “temporary” bridge should be built and that bridge began to be used in 2002.

Photo and information in this article is from Mass.gov.