Middle Road Bridge to Close for a Year

The Middle Road bridge spanning the Route 1 Bypass will soon close for about a year as crews replace it due to old age.

The bridge is scheduled to be shut down Monday night. Crews have already been doing tree clearing, utility relocations, and water and sewer line installations ahead of the project.

A signed detour will be put in place directing traffic to use Peverly Hill Road, Mirona Road, and Lafayette Road during the closure.

The Islington Street bridge spanning the bypass will also be repaired. State transportaton officials say it will be closed in the summer of 2014. The project will take about a year to complete. Traffic will be detoured over the new Middle Street bridge.

Travelers coming from I-95 northbound will be asked to use Exits 5, 6 or 7 to avoid the construction work.

ED Swett, Inc., of Concord is the general contractor for the two bridge replacements, which will cost about $4.3 million, transportation officials said.