The Massachusetts Department of Public Transportation has announced that multiple tests will be conducted on the Veterans Memorial Bridge throughout the day Wednesday, March 16th and Thursday, March 17th. This means the drawbridge will be open for about 10 minutes every hour.
Motorists should expect delays on the bridge, which connects Fall River and Somerset. The delays are expected to occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. both days, with the exception of noon time.
“These openings are necessary to perform testing and fine tuning of the recently upgraded bridge system components and ensure the continued proper operation of the drawbridge,” MassDOT representatives said.
One of the multiple motors lifting the bascules was repaired and required re-calibrating and testing in December.
Crews performed similar hourly testing of the bascules at that time.
MassDOT had put the approximate equipment cost at $13,500, which did not include engineering and installation/testing.
The schedule of work is “weather and emergency dependent,” officials said, urging motorists during those times to seek alternate routes like the Braga Bridge along Interstate 195 to cross the Taunton River.
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