WALTHAM, MA — After having to drive the long-way around to get to the Island neighborhood the bridge opened this week. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.
"I have been working with Mark Haydon who is a Waltham resident and our project Manager for the Woerd Ave Bridge and we are pushing to get the Woerd Ave Bridge open to traffic as soon as possible this week," said City Councilor Cathyann Harris of Ward 8.
MassDOT crews finished painting lines on the roadway June 3. As soon as the paint cured, the bridge reopened to traffic as soon as the paint is cured.
Find out what's happening in Walthamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
For most of the past two years, the state-owned bridge, which connects the rest of Waltham to the Island neighborhood on the South Side has been closed as crews worked to replace the bridge. The estimated completion date has been June since the project began in 2019.
The contractor finished building sidewalks and driveway ramps, applied seeding, and restored the slopes and waterways, according to MassDOT in April. Crews also replaced overhead utilities.
Find out what's happening in Walthamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The bridge, which was built in 1900, had been on a list of state-owned bridges that need repairing for years before the summer of 2018, when the state asked Waltham for a green light to allow crews access to the bridge, which had cement pylons degrading in the water.
The bridge has been water-proofed, paved and bridge joints have been adjusted.
All has gone mostly smooth, and because the site was designated an essential construction site because of the public safety impact, it is set to be finished on time. Neighbors are looking forward to having a quicker route to Moody Street, and a new bridge that includes sidewalks for joggers and pedestrians, said Harris.
What about you? Are you looking forward to the bridge reopening? Why? Tell us in the comments below.
Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.