Beverly Drawbridge Test Openings This Week

BEVERLY, MA — Traffic will be detoured around the Hall Whitaker Drawbridge in Beverly Thursday night into Friday morning as the state Department of Transportation conducts multiple test openings ahead of the upcoming boating season.

The bridge is also known as the Ralph S. Hall and Percy E. Whitaker Memorial Bridge.

The bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8 p.m. on Thursday through 4:30 a.m. on Friday. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians to access the MBTA train station in Beverly with temporary closures when the bridge is about to be opened.

Bridge Street traffic westbound will be directed to follow McPherson Drive, turn left on Route 62 (Elliott Street) and turn left on County Way to reconnect to Bridge Street.

Bridge Street traffic eastbound will be directed left onto County Way, turn right onto Route 62 (Elliott Street) and then right onto McPherson Drive to reconnect to Bridge Street.

The test openings confirm the operational ability of the bridge and help train new bridge operators.

The testing is part of a $4.19 million district drawbridge operation, maintenance and repair contract awarded to SPS New England.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)