Eight MassDOT proposed alternatives to the New Bedford – Fairhaven Bridge

In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) began a corridor study of the New Bedford – Fairhaven bridge that included alternatives to the current structure. MassDOT is currently spending $60 million to increase the lifespan of the bridge that was completed in 1903.

The current bridge provides 95-foot-wide navigational clearance on either side. The replacements would provide 200-270 feet of navigational clearance. The alternative costs would be $45 – $170 million and would shut down the bridge from two weeks to two years depending on the options funded.

Here are the eight recommended long-term alternatives to the current New Bedford – Fairhaven bridge:

1. No Build Alternative. Repair Existing Swing Bridge. Removal and replacement of the existing swing span truss structure. The newly constructed structure would be in the same configuration as the existing swing span. The 95-foot-wide navigational clearance is maintained. The estimated capital cost is $45 million and the construction phase would take 18 months. A two-week-long roadway closure would be required.