Plans are to disconnect the water main for the Pelham Island neighborhood on both sides of the bridge on Tuesday, March 13th, at 8am to allow the construction crew to remove the water main now on the downstream side of the old arch bridge over the Sudbury River and temporarily relocate the water main onto the temporary steel structure shown in the photos.  The water system should be reconnected by 4pm Tuesday in time for families to have dinner at a normal hour.  If all goes according to plans, the bridge should reopen to traffic on Friday, March 16th.  The bridge will reclose on April 16th at which time the temporary Bailey bridge will be disassembled and the underlying 1930’s era arch bridge demolished.  A new bridge will then be built with a construction completion date planned for November 2012.

Boom crane used to build the temporary utility bridge over the Sudbury River

1930’s era bridge with new temporary utility bridge alongside under construction – looking southwest

Existing water main and utility bridge – looking north towards the center of town

Photos and text contributed by Gary Slep