NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — The New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge will be getting a new look in the coming years.

 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) says it will be turning the structure into a vertical lift span bridge. Once completed, the bridge will rise between two towers to let boats pass though, rather than swing to the side.

 

There will be four lanes of travel over the bridge, according to MassDOT, along with sidewalks and safety barriers to separate them.

 

MassDOT said it selected this type of bridge because the construction will cause minimal disruptions. With this style, the closure will last roughly one and a half years at most, the agency said, while others styles could keep it closed for as long as five years.

 

MassDOT is still in the design phase of the project. Construction is not scheduled to start until 2027.

 

See the full story at wpri.com.