114-year-old rail bridge in Mass. marked for demolition, replacement

Written by RT&S Staff
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Koppers will pick up and dispose crossties for a new Class 1 operator.

The Comeau Bridge in Haverhill, Mass., now has its days numbered.

The 114-year-old rail bridge that crosses over South Elm Street and carries commuter, Amtrak, and freight traffic will be demolished as soon as a new rail bridge is built. The new bridge will be built on an overhead platform next to the existing bridge and active tracks. It will be moved into its permanent position over one weekend. Site prep work will begin next March. In order to start construction on the new rail bridge the span that served the B&M Georgetown Branch line will be taken down. That span is no longer in use.

One request from the city council was to make the bridge wider, but MBTA Senior Director, Bridge and Structures, Karl Eckstrom said to make the bridge longer and the roadway wider is a much more invasive project and more time consuming.

Inflation has spiked the original cost of replacing the bridge. It was first tabbed at $9 million but now will cost $13 million.

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