Basiliere Bridge Replacement

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

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.

Learn more about the project

Project Benefits

• 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

Throughout construction, there will be one lane in each direction, and one sidewalk crossing the river. 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.

Updates are provided by MassDOT.  Sign up to receive regular updates to your email or visit Traffic and construction updates to view project status and construction and traffic management updates.