Construction Begins To Replace Merrimack's Red-Listed Bridge

MERRIMACK, NH — Drivers will soon be taking a detour around the Bedford Road Bridge, as work to replace the bridge is now under way. The bridge had been placed on New Hampshire's "Red List" of bridges, meaning replacing the structure is a primary priority due to poor condition. After years of planning and design work, the construction phase of the bridge replacement project has begun.

"It's a big project," said Department of Public Works Director Kyle Fox. "It takes a very long time to build a bridge."

Earlier this month, crews have begun to clear trees in the area. They have also installed the temporary poles that will hold the temporary traffic signals for when the project kicks into full gear. Starting around May or June, after the existing bridge is removed, drivers will be using a newly installed temporary detour road until the new bridge is up, said Fox. Traffic will be down to one lane during this time, with traffic signals controlling alternating traffic. The new bridge is expected to be up by the start of next year, according to current plans.Merrimack has chosen E.D. Swett of Concord to conduct the work and build the new bridge. The final phase of the project, which will include removing the temporary detour road, is expected to be completed by 2020.

According to town documents, the current bridge is severely undersized and is deteriorated below the water level. Fox said that town officials have been working on the project for about eight years — establishing designs, approving the financing, and working with New Hampshire Department of Transportation on scheduling. The project is being funded by the State Bridge Program, which allows the town to be reimbursed for 80 percent of the project cost.

The Bedford Road bridge, which goes over Baboosic Brook, is one of Merrimack's three municipally-owned bridges on the red list, according to documents from New Hampshire Department of Transportation. The other two bridges are located on Route 3, one going over Souhegan River and the other going over Baboosic Brook. The town also has one state-owned red-listed bridge, located on Baboosic Lake Road.