Will The Central Street Bridge Be Completed This Summer?

This week, Eversource, formerly NSTAR, is installing a temporary gas main at the site of the Central Street Bridge, Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin told Selectmen.

Upon completion of Eversource’s relocation of the gas main, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s contractor will resume demolition activities on the bridge, said Halpin.

The bridge closed in early January.

Built in 1920, the Anthony Colonna Bridge, known by many as the Central Street Bridge, is located on Central Street spanning the Sudbury River overlooking the Saxonville mills.

There bridge underwent a major rehabilitation and most of the substructure elements were built in 1972. It was constructed of precast box beams and supported by concrete abutments on bedrock. The northwest and southwest granite block wing walls are the only elements remaining from the 1920 bridge.

MassDOT, which is overseeing the project, said the bridge had deteriorated and needed replaced.

“After a more thorough inspection, it was discovered that one of the bridge supports were found to be more deteriorated that expected,” said Halpin Tuesday night. “Demolition activities will require a higher level of caution. Once demolition of the existing bridge is complete, the contractor will begin to reconstruct the bridge.”

Construction activities will require large scale construction equipment (cranes) and may cause impacts to traffic within the area, said Halpin.

Framingham’s Town Manager said MassDOT is still “aiming” for a bridge completion in August of this year.

Once the bridge is complete, there will be sidewalks on both sides.

The state originally estimated the Central Street Bridge project at $6.2 million.

The proposed project consists of replacing the existing Central Street bridge over the Sudbury River in its present location with minor improvements to the approach roadways. The bridge will be closed during construction with a detour for traffic utilizing the Wickford Road bridge, which was rehabilitated as part of this project prior to the Central Street bridge.

The construction bid price was $4.4 million.

The Wickford Road Bridge closed in March 2013, so MassDOT could make necessary repairs. The Commonwealth said it would be a 4-month project. It ended up being an 18-month project, with the bridge not re-opening until July 2014.

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Photo courtesy of Framingham DPW