NEWBURY – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) impleented “a temporary alternating traffic pattern” on the Plum Island Drawbridge carrying Plum Island Turnpike over the Plum Island River to complete structural steel bridge repairs. The work is scheduled to run from mid-October through through 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, and work crews may be on site twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week as necessary.
The DOT cautins that vehicles traveling in both directions will need to exercise caution as temporary traffic control signals and barriers will remain in place, implementing a 24/7 signal-controlled, alternating traffic pattern throughout the duration of the repairs to allow crews to safely perform bridge structural repair activities underneath the bridge deck.
One (1) lane of traffic will be maintained at all times as the drawbridge is the only portal to Plum Island.
Proper signage, traffic control devices, and police details will be used to guide drives through the work zone.
Drivers traveling through the work zone should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution as the eastbound/westbound traffic pattern are subject to change.
The repair work is being completed as part of an ongoing $7.7 Million District-Wide Drawbridge Operations and Repair contract.
For more information on traffic conditions travelers are encouraged to:
- Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
- Visit www.mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
- Follow MassDOT on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MassDOT to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
- Download MassDOT’s Go Time mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.
