SAUGUS — Work to replace a century-old bridge with a new, safer, and more reliable structure will begin next week.
The 15-foot Water Street Bridge on Route 129 at the Saugus and Wakefield line will be down to one lane of traffic during construction.
The existing granite pillar bridge will be replaced with a 12-foot by 5-foot reinforced concrete box culvert. New guardrails will be installed and the entire area will be paved.
The project is being funded entirely by a $500,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Municipal Small Bridge Program, saving the taxpayers half a million dollars in projected engineering and construction costs.
“The Water Street Bridge is frequently used each day for emergency, essential, and commercial and industrial services,” said Town Manager Scott Crabtree. “Important infrastructure repairs such as this are critical for the safety and convenience of the community.”
The bridge is described as being in poor condition. Over the years, flooding has contributed to the erosion of the pavement and supporting structure of the bridge.
Saugus was one of 36 communities to be awarded a grant by the Baker administration last March. Awards totaled $16 million.
Construction will begin Monday. Most of the work will be done during weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., but some work will be completed on two separate weekends. During these weekends, which are scheduled for July 13-16 and July 20-23, the road will be closed and traffic will be rerouted.
The weektime work will allow for one lane of traffic, but parking will be restricted in work areas through the duration of the project.
