NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts Department of Transportation released further renovation plans on the Hadley Overpass, which is expected to be fully operational by 2014.
Currently the crews are working underneath the bridge, making necessary steel repairs on its truss system. These repairs will continue throughout the winter. However, more work items will follow in the upcoming months.
Starting next week, the contractor will begin to replace the bridge deck on the right side. This will be completed with the current traffic configuration.
Early in the summer, traffic will be directed onto the west side of the bridge so repairs on the east side can begin. After, deck replacement will begin on the east side.
Then in the fall, traffic will again be re-routed — the northbound traffic will be shifted to the east side of the bridge, while the southbound will run on the west side. Then the contractor will perform steel repairs underneath the bridge and then replace the deck in the center portion.
Most construction activities are expected to finish in late 2013 with the final painting of the truss scheduled for spring 2014. When construction ends the entire bridge will be fully operational.
The transportation department urges drives to reduce speed when traveling through the area, especially when the traffic configuration changes.
