Work On Bedford Road Bridge Making Good Progress

MERRIMACK, NH — The Merrimack Department of Public Works issued an update on the Bedford Road Bridge project that is expected to have the red-listed bridge replaced by the end of the year. Merrimack DPW said H-Pile foundations have been installed for both abutments, work on constructing forms for the Abutment B pile cap is underway and the installation of a permanent sheet pile wall on the west side of Bedford Road is underway as well.

Work began on the bridge in June when Eversource moved its overhead lines from the area so that a detour could be constructed as part of the project. A traffic signal was installed to control one-way alternating traffic.

The Bedford Road bridge was listed as one of three town-owned bridges on the state’s Red List of bridges in structurally in poor condition. That forced the removal of the old bridge while a new bridge was installed. Town documents revealed the former bridge was severely undersized and deteriorated below the water level.

The project is being funded by the State Bridge Program, which allows the town to be reimbursed for 80 percent of the project cost.