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MassDOT Scheduled Temporary Closures on the Rocks Village Drawbridge

Closures are needed to facilitate bridge repairs; traffic detours will be in place
Posted on: April 24, 2020 - 5:32pm

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2020

Media Advisory: Haverhill and West Newbury, April 27

MassDOT Scheduled Temporary Closures on the Rocks Village Drawbridge

Closures are needed to facilitate bridge repairs; traffic detours will be in place

HAVERHILL/WEST NEWBURY – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing bridge repairs will begin on the Rocks Village Drawbridge over the Merrimack River that spans East Main Street in Haverhill and Bridge Street in West Newbury. The work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 27, and will continue for the next six weeks.

The work will require temporary single lane closures or full closure of the Rocks Village Bridge and detours as follows:

  • Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1 - One lane on the bridge will be closed and there will be alternating traffic.
  • Saturday, May 2, through Sunday, May 17 - Both of the lanes on the bridge will remain open, as prep work will be performed off of the bridge.
  • Monday, May 18, through Wednesday, June 3 - The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic and all traffic will be detoured. The movable span will not be operational during this period.

From the Rocks Village Bridge on the West Newbury side of the Merrimack River

  • Right onto Church Street in West Newbury
  • Right onto Main Street in West Newbury (Route 113 westbound) which becomes Main Street in Groveland (Route 113 westbound)
  • Right onto Route 113/Route 97 across the Bates Bridge over the Merrimack River onto Groveland Street in Haverhill
  • Right onto East Broadway in Haverhill, left onto Kenoza Street in Haverhill
  • Right onto Middle Road in Haverhill, right onto Amesbury Road in Haverhill (Route 110 eastbound)
  • Right onto Amesbury Line Road in Haverhill
  • Left onto East Main Street in Haverhill and ending at the bridge on the Haverhill side of the Merrimack River

From the Rocks Village Bridge on the Haverhill side of the Merrimack River

  • Left onto East Broadway in Haverhill
  • Left onto Groveland Street in Haverhill, then across the Bates Bridge over the Merrimack River
  • Left onto Main Street in Groveland (Route 113 eastbound) which becomes Main Street in West Newbury (Route 113 eastbound)
  • Left onto Church Street in West Newbury and ending at the bridge on the West Newbury side of the Merrimack River

The overhead truss on the movable span was struck and damaged by over-height vehicles on July 5, 2019, and January 13, 2020. The damaged structural steel members will be repaired. Cost recovery will be pursued under the Accident Recovery Program.

Those traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed and use caution.

Appropriate signage is in place to guide users through the area.

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are also encouraged to:

  • Dial 511 and select a route to hear real–time conditions.
  • Visit www.mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
  • Follow MassDOT on Twitter @MassDOT to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
  • Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.