MBTA to suspend some rail service during Gloucester bridge replacement

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 5/16/2019 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Gloucester Drawbridge carries Rockport Line trains over the Annisquam River in Gloucester, Massachusetts.Photo – MBTA

Due to Gloucester Drawbridge construction, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will replace train service from Rockport to West Gloucester Station with bus service during the first two weeks in June.

The century-old Gloucester Drawbridge, which carries Rockport Line trains over the Annisquam River in Gloucester, is being replaced. During the June construction, the south side of the existing timber trestle will be demolished, and the remaining north side of the bridge will be monitored and tested, according to an MBTA press release. 

The $57 million project is slated for completion in 2022. The new will include side-by-side single-track moveable bridges, an updated east approach trestle with pre-stressed box beams on top of drilled shafts, and a relocated control tower on the bridge's Gloucester Station side.

The new bridge will result in more reliable rail service, eliminate current bridge-related speed restrictions, bring the bridge into a state of good repair and reduce maintenance costs, MBTA officials said. 

“Replacing the Gloucester Drawbridge is a key step toward improving commuter-rail service on the Rockport Line,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak in a press release.