Fall River’s Weaver Street Bridge now expected to be completed in a matter of weeks

The project to replace a bridge in Fall River is now expected be completed much quicker than recently believed.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced in October of 2021 it would be closing the Weaver Street Bridge located over the railroad in Fall River on Monday, November 8, 2021, with the closure anticipated to continue through 2023.

The closure was necessary to allow crews to safely and effectively demolish and reconstruct the bridge.

In March of 2024, MassDOT issued an update on the $5.5 million project stating that it was 97% complete and that bridge, sidewalk, and paving of surface course is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2024.

On Monday, State Rep. Carole Fiola announced that “the Weaver Street Bridge construction project is moving along steadily! Utility brackets under the bridge, drainage, curbing, and sidewalk installation is currently underway” with a completion by November of 2024.

On Friday, however, Fiola received a more encouraging update from MassDOT regarding Weaver Street.

“The bridge structure is complete, asphalt base and binder courses have been placed, and the installation of the protective screen and handrail are complete. The Contractor is currently placing concrete sidewalks, followed by the placement of modified rock fill on the southeast slope and installing chain link fence. The Contractor’s schedule shows final paving to take place the first week in May.”

Online MassDOT project information states that surface course paving is tentatively scheduled for May 1st & 2nd depending on the weather. Pavement markings are tentatively scheduled for May 7.

The bridge is now anticipated to be opened to vehicular traffic prior to the end of May.