The bridge connecting Route 107 between Lynn and Saugus over the Saugus River started an “extended closure” for restore work, MassDOT introduced.
The bridge, which carries the Salem Turnpike and Western Ave between the 2 cities, first shut down Wednesday afternoon. The construction remained closed Thursday.
“Detours in place,” MassDOT acknowledged in an X submit Wednesday. “The drawbridge will remain operational for marine traffic. Sidewalks open to bicyclists and pedestrians.”
In a advisory posted for the city of Saugus, MassDOT advised drivers to count on “extended detours.”
“Findings from a recent bridge inspection required the closure of the bridge,” the MassDOT advisory acknowledged. “The bridge will be closed until further notice. To ensure safety, vehicle loads must be removed from the affected sections until appropriate repairs can be completed.”
Newly appointed MassDOT Interim Secretary Phillip Eng, who stepped into the place on Thursday, stated he had “gotten some briefings” on the bridge closure at an 11 a.m. press convention.
“The team is working really quickly on materials and repairs,” stated Eng. “And I don’t have any update to share right now, but I can assure you that it’s of urgency to get that bridge reopened.”
The present bridge was constructed as a short lived alternative for the Bly Bridge, which closed in 2013, and development on the everlasting alternative was scheduled to start in 2020, in accordance with MassDOT.
