Belden Bridge work on schedule

SAUGUS – Despite the snow and occasional bitter cold the Belden Bly Bridge project remains on schedule.Executive Office of Transportation Spokesman Klark Jessen said not much has changed, work has progressed, the detour remains in place and the project is moving ahead.Route 107/Western Avenue closed Dec. 15 of last year so the state could begin repairs to the aged bridge. The closure has forced commuters onto side streets in both Saugus and Lynn and lead to some initial traffic problems.Lynn’s Department of Public Works Commissioner Jay Fink said despite a rocky start to the project things have run relatively smooth on his side of the bridge closure.”It’s a detour and there is some delay with a detour but there haven’t been any major complaints,” he said.The detour runs down Ballard Street to Lincoln Avenue and Boston Street and from Boston Street to Summer Street.Jessen said the state has documented numerous timed runs on the detour from start to finish both northbound and southbound during both morning and evening rush hours and the average lag time remains about 10 minutes.Residents in the area have said that the traffic is unpredictable. Some days it flows freely with little or no delay and other days it is backed up nearly the length of Ballard Street.Most, however, have reportedly taken the project in stride reasoning that it will be over in almost two months time.The bridge is slated to reopen May 15 in time for the boating community, both commercial and recreational, to get in the channel for the season. While the bridge remained in the upright position for the first three months, the span is now closed. Jessen said contractors have begun working on the rear sections of the tread plates and on the mechanical rehabilitation. Jessen said repairs for the front and middle sections of the tread plates and the concrete being used to encase the track girders are in place and “work is proceeding at a steady pace.”