Beverly Kernwood Drawbridge Restrictions Set To Begin Thursday Night

BEVERLY, MA — North Shore residents who use the Kernwood Bridge will have an extra slow go for the next few weekday nights as the state Department of Transportation implements travel restrictions while it repairs the movable span on the bridge over the Danvers River.

Beginning Thursday night at 9, the bridge will have one-way alternating traffic through 5 a.m. and will not be able to open for the passage of marine traffic that cannot safely pass under the bridge while it is closed.

Work will continue Monday and Tuesday night with it expected to conclude at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

The drawbridge will be open for normal operations from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on the weekend during normal operating hours.

Harbormaster patrol boats will be on-site to guide marine traffic through the area during work hours.

Those traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution. Police details will be on-site to guide traffic through the area.

A June public meeting date has been set for state transportation officials to come back to Beverly and update residents on the status of replacing the Hall-Whitaker Bridge almost one year to the day after its emergency closure.

The community meeting will be held in the Beverly High School auditorium on June 27 between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Those who cannot attend in person can watch the meeting on BevCam's YouTube channel.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)