Politics & Government
Burns Bridge Wins Project of the Year Award
The Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge, connecting Worcester and Shrewsbury on Route 9, just won a big award.
WORCESTER, MA — A $144 million project to replace the old Burns Bridge that runs over Lake Quinsigamond and links Worcester to Shrewsbury - or Shrewsbury to Worcester, depending on your direction - just won the Public Works Project of the Year award from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
“We are grateful to the American Public Works Association for recognizing this project,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack in a statement. “The Burns Bridge is an example of how MassDOT is approaching new construction with the priority of building projects to take into consideration all modes of transportation and also the needs of the surrounding community. The people who use our infrastructure are the central focus of how we are building our infrastructure.”
The bridge was part of MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program, completely four months ahead of schedule, in the summer of 2015. The bridge was also completed on budget.
The bridge was replaced because it was deemed structurally deficient, quickly deteriorating and requiring expensive maintenance.
The new bridge allows for improved traffic flow on Route 9 and provides easier access to UMass Memorial Medical Center, said an announcement. The bridge includes bike lanes and pedestrian overlooks for viewing rowing and boating events. For the first time since the lake existed, sailboats will be able to pass under the bridge.
Photo Credit: MassDOT
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