Storm Flooding Closes Beverly's Kernwood Bridge Friday

BEVERLY, MA — Friday's wet and windy storm caused the closure of the Kernwood Bridge in Beverly.

The state Department of Transportation said the bridge was closed because of flooding at about 12:30 p.m.

The Kernwood closure comes as the Hall-Whitaker Bridge is permanently closed to traffic after the state declared it to be structurally unsafe in June.

The Marblehead Causeway was closed earlier Friday morning as storm surge battered the coastline at high tide amid the fierce winter storm.

Marblehead police said the Causeway would remain closed "until it is safe to cross."

Atlantic Avenue was closed at the Swampscott line, while Front Street was closed near Selman Street.

The MBTA was running on its "snow route" until Front Street reopened.

"If you see wires down on the ground assume they are live and never touch them," police said.

The storm brought gusts of wind of 55 to 60 miles per hour and up to two inches of rain to the state late Thursday night into Friday morning. A sharp temperature drop forecast for Friday afternoon and evening could bring icy conditions.

(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.)