Basiliere Bridge Replacement

Project Phase

Preconstruction stage - subsurface investigation including test pits and exploratory borings

Major construction operations are still several months away. A public information meeting detailing construction impacts will be provided thirty days in advance of major operations.

Location

Main Street, Haverhill 01835

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8hRaHT1irHUYSnYH6 

Overview

MassDOT will replace the PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge to improve safety for all users. The new structure will:

• Support present and future traffic needs
• Improve cycling and walking conditions
• Improve the Merrimack River's water quality
• Reduce the number of piers in the river.
• Allow continued boating on the Merrimack during and after construction
• Minimize impacts to nearby properties
• Support utilities while the new bridge is being built
• Provide opportunities for accelerated construction methods to reduce construction impacts
• Provide a look which reflects the old bridge while embracing the new

Background

Built in 1925, the PFC Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge crosses the Merrimack River in the center of Haverhill. It carries Route 125, locally known as Bridge Street. The bridge rests on seven spans. It has two lanes crossing the river and four lanes at the nearest intersections in Bradford and Haverhill. Each side of the bridge also supports a sidewalk. The bridge is a vital connector for the City of Haverhill: 25,000+ vehicles cross each day. This figure includes heavy vehicles such as trucks, school buses, and Merrimack Valley Transit Authority (MEVA) buses.

All the bridge’s parts show the wear of over a century of service. Even parts users cannot see are in poor condition with the foundations subject to scour. The scour results from the river’s current colliding with the bridge’s piers. As a result, the riverbed around the piers is eroding. Frequent inspections and repairs, like those completed in late February and early March of 2025, keep the bridge safe for all users, but have a real impact on the traveling public such as lane closures and detours.

Contractor

Awarded September 2025

Anticipated Construction Duration

6.5 years

Traffic Changes

Major construction operations are still several months away. A public information meeting detailing construction impacts will be provided thirty days in advance of major operations.

Throughout construction, there will be one lane in each direction, and one sidewalk crossing the river. To learn more about anticipated construction staging, please see our 25% design public hearing presentation.

The limits of work for project include the bridge and the two nearest intersections. These are Main/Water/Merrimack Street and South Main/Middlesex Street. A short section of Main Street between Merrimack Street and Ginty Boulevard is also included.

Contact Information

haverhillbasilierebridge@dot.state.ma.us

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Permitting 

This project is exempt from local Conservation Commission permitting but is reviewed by state and federal agencies. Contact haverhillbasilierebridge@dot.state.ma.us for more information.

Public Participation

MassDOT welcomes any questions you may have and encourages that you sign up to receive regular updates to your email. Visit Documents and meeting materials to view all public meetings' flyers, presentations, and minutes.

The next major public engagement will take place at the start of construction.

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