Beverly's Kernwood Bridge Gates Stuck Closed Ahead Of Repair Work

BEVERLY, MA — The gates of the Kenwood Bridge connecting Beverly and Salem were stuck in the closed position early Wednesday afternoon hours ahead of scheduled work to fix the mechanical system and movable span of the drawbridge later that night, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Repairs to fix the mechanical system and movable span were set to reduce travel on the bridge to one-way alternating traffic Wednesday night.

The bridge — which has experienced multiple instances of getting stuck open in recent months — will be reduced to one lane starting at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. The work is expected to conclude Thursday morning.

The state Department of Transportation said police details will be present to direct traffic through the work zone using the one-way alternating traffic pattern.

The navigable channel will remain open to marine vessels that can safely pass under the bridge while it is in a closed position. Marine vessels requiring a drawbridge opening can request it in accordance with the overnight operating procedure.

This work is part of an ongoing $2.6 million district-wide drawbridge operations and repair contract.

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