August Bates Bridge Update

As you’ve probably noticed, the summer heat didn’t deter the crews working on the Bates Bridge project – – we’re now at 22% complete! That is 10 times last year’s mid-August progress.

 

Progress has been mostly technical – – for a full report and to see pictures, go to the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction page.

June Bates Bridge Update

We had hoped that it would be 21% by June 21st – but the news is still good. The Bates Bridge project is 18% complete.

As most of you can see from all the cranes and heavy equipment, construction is going quickly, with most of the work being done from working barges on the downriver side of the Merrimack.

On the Groveland side, utility relocation work continues along Main Street. To see pictures, go to the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction page.

May Bates Bridge Update

Mother Nature may be taking her time bringing us spring weather, but one thing that isn’t taking it’s time is work on the new Bates Bridge – Cianbro contractors are ahead of schedule and work is 17% complete.

Crews working on barges set up within the river have finished both the installation and excavation of the cofferdams for the new pier locations. As you may recall from our last update, Cianbro has implemented a new traffic management setup to facilitate roadway construction on the Groveland side. This phase also creates a work zone for the contractor to start work on the new southerly bridge abutment.

Pile installation in the area of the north abutment and the northeast retaining wall on the Haverhill side of the river has again commenced, after being on hold due to weather conditions from the winter. On the Groveland side, utility relocation work continues along Main Street.

To see pictures, go to the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction page.

Bates Bridge Traffic Management Plans - Stage 2 - Groveland

This week the Bates Bridge Reconstruction traffic management plans moved into its second stage on the Groveland side, altering the traffic flow.

To create a work zone, Jersey barriers have been installed along Main Street from the post office to the existing bridge.

As you may have noticed, the barriers have taken the right turn lane near the bridge for use as a sidewalk for pedestrians. For the duration of Stage 2, stop signs will be replacing the existing flashing signals at the intersection. This phase of the construction process on the Groveland side is estimated to last until spring 2012.

Below you can see the traffic management plan. (click to enlarge)

Bates Bridge Construction Update

Finally – a break from the weekly snow storms! The first hint of spring is here and we’re happy to report the Bates Bridge is 11% complete.

Even though the river is frozen, ice has been cleared from the marina to the barges and you can see the icy pathway from the bridge. Crews working from those barges have finished installing cofferdams for piers 1, 3 and 4. Excavation has already started within #3.

Because of the weather, progress on installing piles for the north abutment and the northeast retaining wall on the Haverhill side has been slow going.

On the other hand, utility relocations are reaching an end. With almost all overhead and underground utility relocations completed on the Haverhill side along Groveland Street, Old Ferry Road and Orchard Avenue, only Main Street in Groveland remains.

To see pictures of the excavation from cofferdam 3, go to the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction page.

Bates Bridge Update

With the New Year comes new information on the Bates Bridge project: you can see work in the river everyday – and it’s now 9% complete.

In spite of a cold November & December, crews are working from two barges on the river and have finished installing cofferdams for what will be piers 3 and 4 of the new bridge. Contractor Cianbro has also started installing piling for a retaining wall on the Haverhill side.

With almost all overhead and underground utility relocations completed on the Haverhill side along Groveland Street, Old Ferry Road and Orchard Avenue, the work is going much more slowly on the Groveland side along Main Street. We’ll stay on that.

To see pictures of the construction progress, go to the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction page.

"Spotlight Georgetown" Talks Bates Bridge Project

Heidi Michitson recently sat down with Beverly Enos -- host of "Spotlight Georgetown," -- to talk about the Groveland/Haverhill Bridge Reconstruction Project.  The interview will air on GCTV (Georgetown Community Television) starting this Friday, January 7th.  Showtimes are Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays at 8 A.M. and 8 P.M.

Photo: Georgetown Record

GCTV is channel 9 for Comcast subscribers and channel 42 for Verizon subscribers.

Blasts From The Past

As you've probably noticed, there are barges in the Merrimack River and cofferdam construction for the Groveland Bridge is well underway.  (Cofferdams are what allow construction work to continue through the winter.)  The elusive underwater cable was removed this week and the bridge is now 3% complete.  

This month, a lot of Bates Bridge memorabilia has come my way.  The first postcard came from a flea market, with a 1913 postmark.  The message addresses the new bridge built that year.  In 1871, the first Groveland Bridge was built to replace the chain ferry but collapsed 10 years later.  In 1887, a fire destroyed 8 buildings in the square and the bridge suffered damage as well.  It was reconstructed a second time and completed in 1913.  The bridge that stands today was completed in the mid-20th Century.  (Click on an image to enlarge.)



"The Merrimac River from Groveland Bridge, Groveland, Mass."



Before there was a Groveland Bridge, there was a chain ferry that carried horse carts and passengers between Groveland and Haverhill beginning in 1829.

"Miliken's Chain Ferry, 1870; Ran from behind Groveland's present post office until the Groveland Bridge was built in 1871."

As you may recall, the Elm Park Renovation Project was completed in 2004 thanks to the Groveland Historical Society's efforts and funding from a state grant.  Here is a shot of what Elm Park looked like a hundred years earlier--and no doubt what it can look like again someday.

"Beautiful Elm Park, Groveland, 1900; Looking toward the Merrimack River and Groveland Bridge."

The Groveland workforce of the late 19th Century relied chiefly on manufacturing for jobs.  Pictured below is the third of the woolen mills E. J. M. Hale built.  This woolen mill was later owned by Benjamin Parker Hale and Arthur D. Veasey.  That's the same Veasey Family that the former Nun's Hill is named after.

"Groveland Woolen Mills (no. 3 of 3 mills); Built in 1859 and operated until 1927, it was a major source of employment.  Owned and operated by the Hale family, and later the Veasey family."

Bates Bridge Update and Upcoming Briefing

It’s almost Columbus Day—which promises spectacular weather—and time for a progress report on the Bates Bridge project.

As you can tell from the activity on both ends of the bridge, the project is moving along.  In fact, the first layer of new pavement has been installed on sections of Orchard Avenue and Old Ferry Road in Haverhill.  A portion of Coffin Avenue closed as part of the next stage (Stage 2) in the plans.  During this time, Groveland Street will remain open and work will be concentrated on two projects: constructing a parking area for the abutters and boaters and removing existing pavement on a section of Coffin Avenue.  Following that, areas directly abutting the bridge will be on-hold until next spring, which Stage 2 continues into.

We are also waiting on more information about the underwater cable, which has been found. Because it is National Grid’s old cable, it will be their responsibility to coordinate removal.  We will keep you posted as to how this will affect the project moving forward, as soon as we get word from MassDOT.

Next Tuesday, October 12, this office will be hosting an informal Bates Bridge Briefing at Groveland Town Hall from 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. Please stop by to see bridge plans and talk with us personally. Until then, you can always get in touch with Heidi Michitson at michitson@comcast.net.

Coffin Avenue Road Closing in Haverhill

A portion of Coffin Avenue in Haverhill is currently closed in accordance with MassDOT's traffic management plans. Two stages have been combined where the work areas will focus on constructing the parking areas for abutters and boaters and also to remove the existing pavement on the section of Coffin Avenue from Groveland Street to Old Ferry Road. This stage will last until next spring and Groveland Street will remain open for the duration.

Haverhill/Groveland Office Hours

The office of Rep. Harriett L. Stanley will give a Bates Bridge update and conduct constituent office hours at the Kennedy Circle Community Center in Haverhill on September 10th from 1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Haverhill and Groveland residents are invited to stop by with their questions and/or concerns, as well as to get the most up-to-date news on the Bates Bridge Project.

Residents who cannot attend may always call Heidi Michitson, Haverhill Director, at 978-373-2231, or our Boston office at 617-722-2430.

Bates Bridge Update

The Bates Bridge project is moving along. We’ve made it to 2% completion—and heavy construction is coming soon.

This fall, cofferdams will be built so that bridge work can continuously take place in the water. What are cofferdams? They are watertight enclosures placed underwater and then pumped dry. Cofferdams allow subsurface support structures to be excavated and constructed with workers inside them.

In preparation for this, contractor Cianbro continues to finalize engineering submittals and environmental permits. Work activities within the water are scheduled to start in mid-November—just as it gets cold.

Utility relocations have been going on in Haverhill along Groveland Street, Old Ferry Road and Orchard Avenue. (These are the road closings we told you about a couple weeks ago.) Also on the Haverhill side, Cianbro is continuing to install new roadway drainage systems and new water mains.

So what’s the story with the underground cable? Still nothing certain. MassDOT is working with National Grid to see if it’s really where the old plans say it is—running parallel to the existing bridge on the downstream side. So far, methods to locate the cable have included probing, test pits and detection devices—all with no results. Divers may be used in coming weeks because it’s always possible that the cable was removed years ago and the old plans weren’t noted.

The last couple of days have been rainy, but the weekend looks good. Enjoy the rest of this spectacular summer and we’ll be in touch when there is more news!

Ongoing installation of drainage structures and piping - August 2010

Upcoming Road Closings in Haverhill

Here’s a quick Bates Bridge project update: next week, August 9 – August 13, a portion of Old Ferry Road in Haverhill will be closed due to construction.

Old Ferry Road Closing: August 9th -- August 13th; Stage 1A of the Groveland/Haverhill Bates Bridge Reconstruction

The following week, August 16 – August 20, a portion of Orchard Avenue in Haverhill will be closed as well. The contractor will be building the new proposed roads at this time.

Orchard Avenue Closing: August 16th -- August 20th; Stage 1B of the Groveland/Haverhill Bate Bridge Reconstruction

We’re on our way to a new bridge with these first two stages getting underway! I hope this helps in planning the next couple weeks accordingly.  Please contact my office if you have any questions.

Bates Bridge Update

Since our last update, this office has been working on the Bates Bridge 24/7!

Tuesday morning, staff and I attended a project briefing at MassHighway’s District 4 Headquarters in Arlington. I think it’s fair to say that we’ll work a little more closely with the MassDOT engineering staff going forward.

Wednesday night, we attended a Groveland Conservation Commission meeting and briefed the commissioners about bridge plans. Yesterday, Heidi Michitson and I went down to the site to see things for ourselves.

To recap, primary elements of the bridge work include the construction of a new movable span bridge, which includes the installation of drilled shaft foundations, reinforced concrete piers, a structural steel superstructure, and a concrete filled grid deck. What that technical jargon means to local residents will be explained as the work progresses.

This winter, temporary cofferdams will allow work to take place regardless of the weather. Cofferdams are designed to keep water (and soil) out of the excavation area. In this case, the cofferdam will give contractors a dry environment as they work below water level. Because of environmental restrictions (mostly wildlife/spawning related) in-water work can only occur between the winter months of mid-November and March 1st.

As you know, the traffic jams continue on both sides of the bridge. Overhead and underground utility relocation is well underway on the Haverhill side along Groveland Street, Old Ferry Road, and Orchard Avenue. That work will certainly be completed by the end of the year—and probably before Thanksgiving.

Hope this new information helps keep you cool over the weekend!

Bates Bridge Update

It’s been 100° outside for several days, so it seemed like a good time for a couple of Groveland Bridge updates. Things are moving along, so look for another next week.

As of today, the Bates Bridge reconstruction is 1% done.

The new bridge will be located approximately 60 feet downstream from the original bridge. The entire project will cost about $50 million and will be built by Cianbro Construction of Maine, the low bidders.

The project also includes reconstruction of approach roadways in both Haverhill and Groveland. Traffic signal and geometric improvements at the intersection of Groveland Street with Lincoln Avenue in Haverhill and at the intersection of Groveland Street with Main Street (next to Elm Park) in Groveland are also included.

Construction has been designed by the Massachusetts Highway Department and will be overseen by MassDOT, which is the new executive office of transportation that oversees all agencies.

MassDOT maintains that the existing bridge will remain open during construction…and I am taking them at their word.

At 1% completion, one significant problem has already happened—discovery of an old (possibly oil-filled) cable on the bottom of the Merrimack River. This cable was a surprise—and no one found it during project design and permitting. It will need to be removed to allow the installation of the bridge piers.

Cianbro also started tree removal on both sides of the bridge. Some of you were concerned by that, but MassDOT had told us that all the necessary permits and approvals were in place. (We’ll be confirming this with the communities.) The exception to that may be 4 trees on the Groveland side at Elm Park, but these probably won’t be dealt with until sometime next year.

Bates Bridge Project Underway

As many of you already know, prep work on the Bates Bridge project was well underway last Friday morning. Surveying crews were marking off the locations where the new bridge will “come ashore,” trees were cut and removed from both Groveland and Haverhill riverbanks and utilities were being relocated on the Haverhill side.

Traffic tie-ups were an issue on both sides of the Bridge. Civilian flaggers were working on the Haverhill side of the Bates Bridge, but not in Groveland Square. Rep. Stanley was there to see the situation for herself and to talk with MassHighway supervisors. She did confirm that Police Departments in both communities had advance notice of the work.

Despite the traffic issues, it was clear that the Bates Bridge project is in progress – and after 15 years, we’re glad to see it get going. Next time, we’ll try to get you advance notice, too, so you don’t spend too much time in traffic. Meanwhile, contact Heidi Michitson at michitson@comcast.net or Stephanie Cappucci at stephanie.cappucci@state.ma.us with any questions or comments.

Finally, A New Bridge Over Local Waters

For those of you who don’t receive our email updates about the upcoming reconstruction of the Bates Bridge (between Groveland and Haverhill), here is an update:

On December 8, 2009, this project went to bid. MassHighway (now MassDOT) selected a construction company to perform the work. A contract was awarded to Cianbro Construction on January 6, 2010. On January 27, 2010, the Notice to Proceed was issued (this is final step in the process of getting the project moving). This project is expected to be completed in 2014.

One of MassDOT’s main goals is to keep travel routes the same during construction, and only change slightly after completion—as the new bridge will be constructed 60 feet downstream.

MassDOT plans to remove the blinking light at the intersection in Groveland when the project is completed. Intersections at both ends of the bridge will have controlled signals installed.

If you would like to see the construction plans, please stop by Groveland Town Hall or Haverhill City Hall. In Groveland the plans can be viewed by visiting the Selectman’s Office; in Haverhill you can go to Room 214, Mondays through Fridays, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This month, MassDOT held a Pre-Construction Conference with Cianbro and local utility companies to discuss specifics on how to arrange and protect services to residents on either side of the bridge. Given some of the interruptions the area has had recently, this office’s goal is to minimize them in the future.

Due to environmental restrictions relating to in-water construction, Cianbro believes the summer of 2010 may be consumed with prep-work. Now, actual construction is expected for late summer/early fall of 2010.

If you would like to be included on future Bates Bridge email updates please send me an email (stephanie.cappucci@state.ma.us) with your name and address!